The French translation of Vachanas — a distinctive form of Kannada spiritual poetry from the 12th-century Sharana movement — was unveiled at Alliance Française, Bengaluru, marking its rendition into 38 world languages after five years of meticulous work.
At the launch event, Basava Samiti president Aravind Jatti highlighted the global relevance of Vachanas, stating, “If the world embraces Vachanas, perhaps conflicts would cease — such is their transformative power.” He likened the Sharana revolution, led by Basavanna, to the French Revolution, noting their shared ideals of social justice and equality. Jatti appealed to Marc Lamy, France’s consul general in Bengaluru, to facilitate the inclusion of French Vachana translations in public libraries across France to promote global harmony.
Lamy, reinforcing the growing France-India partnership, said, “Bilateral ties are at their peak. I support the reintroduction of Campus France at Alliance Française to deepen our cultural and educational collaboration.”
Lamy also committed to hosting an elaborate Bastille Day celebration in Bengaluru in 2026, promising attendance of over 450 guests with comprehensive security and logistics support.
Focusing on academic exchange, Lamy expressed the ambition to have 30,000 Indian students in France by 2030, while encouraging French youth to explore India, emphasizing the need for mutual language fluency and cultural immersion.
This celebration of Vachana’s universal message, paired with strong diplomatic and academic ties, signals a deepening of Indo-French cultural connection.
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