Although some elements are new
I have this sense of déja vu.
6 years ago I was awed
When I received my first award.
I don’t quite know for what feat,
I got the Ordre du Mérite.
And now it’s the Légion d’Honneur.
Merci, Monsieur l’Ambassadeur.
This love for French and for France
Was a coup de foudre, from first glance!
My very first link, I now guess,
Was an early visit by GS.
My mother wrote that when I was
Just two, ma cousine Genevoise
Conversed with me en français
And left an impression, till this day.
Perhaps that is the reason why
In school, I would always try
So very hard when it came to French
But Hindi felt like a wrench.
In ‘70 by happenstance
GS invited me to France.
So I was quickly on a plane
And then I took a rumbling train.
The train was slow, no TGV,
But soon I was in St. Tropez.
The beauties there gave me a scare
For most of them were rather bare.
And very soon I came to know
Why this small town was called Seins Trop!
Of course I met a comely wench
Who taught me how to speak in French.
At school, you mostly read and write
So speaking French was a delight.
And thus began my link to France.
For my rôle in IFTA and Alliance
Uncle Sohrab paved the way.
I sorely miss him on this day.
His absence is the only cloud.
Today, I know, he would be proud.
Like me he also had the chance
To be decorated twice by France.
My family is here in full force
For me they have always been a source
Of great support as I recall.
And I would like to thank them all.
My friends, thanks for the bonhomie,
Join us in French gastronomie,
Paired tonight with Indian wines.
These are good auguries and signs
For ever stronger collaboration
Between great France and our nation.
My thanks then to M. Rouhaud
For putting on such a show.
And in the coming weeks Alliance
Will bring you all the best of France.
For joie de vivre, France is known-
A concept that it seems to own.
But I think it only fair
France should be known for savoir faire!
And If I could have my way
We’d travel here by TGV.
France and India could win the race
In voyaging to outer space.
Both countries could successfully
Develop nuclear energy.
I’m deeply grateful to Jérôme
Who travelled far from his home
And kindly came all the way
To our beautiful Bombay
To present me with this award.
With all our hearts let’s applaud.
I’m glad that I have had the chance
To share with you my love of France.
And some of you might well find
This somewhat strange, but love is blind.
And so I would like to quote
From a poem that I once wrote-
Mais mon coeur ne me donne le luxe du choix –
Je ne sais pas pourquoi, mais j’aime ces Gaulois.
