Mr. Thierry Berthelot, Consulate General of France in Bangalore conferred Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) on Dr. Fatima Shahnaz, at a special investiture ceremony held at Alliance Française of Hyderabad.
The honour was in recognition to her works as an actor, writer, journalist, theatre director, artistic director, humanitarian, professor (emerita).
Hails from royal dynasties Nizams and Mughal, Fatima Shahnaz was an actor from the Institut d’Arts Dramatiques Rene Simon in Paris, and an actor and theatre director of Off-Broadway theatre in New York. She completed her education with a stint at the legendary French school of cuisine, the Cordon Bleu and hopes to bring a new dimension to ‘nouvelle cuisine’ through innovations in Indo-French culinary arts. She is one among the new generation of International Indian writers, alumna with BA, MA and PH.D. from the Sorbonne University in Paris. Shahnaz was formerly invited by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to an international conference in Tehran to deliver a lecture on international human rights.
Her works include Golconda, Khaki-poems on Pulwama, Saraswati, Shards, Prince of Tears, The New York Poems, Kaleidoscope Eyes, Tiger in the twilight and others. She has been a featured speaker at diverse university venues, appeared on television and radio programs as well as cultural and humanitarian platforms. All through her life abroad, Fatima Shahnaz had a profound connectedness to Indian philosophies, mysticism and her extraordinary Indian heritage.
On this occasion, Dr. Fatima said “France has supported me and through me, it has supported the Indian people. A Hyderabadi being honoured is an honour to all my people. This places huge responsibility on me, as a citizen of India”
Dr. Samuel Berthet, Director of Alliance Française of Hyderabad said “Begum Fatima Shahnaz combines the old culture of Hyderabad, with French erudition and rebellious spirit of the sixties, the years of the famous May 68 students’ protests. She is an incarnation of Hyderabadi cosmopolitanism and universalism, as well as of French long association with Hyderabad in the line of famous traveler Tavernier, General Raymond or Bilkees Latif”
Huge congratulation to Dr. Fatima for being a representation of the Indo-French friendship and a true connoisseur of French culture.
Thank you to Harish Ramnani and Laveena Ramnani, Directors of Karachi Bakery and Van Lavino to have served the guests delicious amuse-bouches.
