In a moving ceremony at the French Embassy in New Delhi, Dr. Alka Pande, one of India’s most eminent art historians and curators, was conferred with a prestigious honour by the Government of France, celebrating her immense contribution to the arts, Indian aesthetics, and Indo-French cultural relations. The award was presented by H.E. Thierry Mathou, the Ambassador of France to India, and attended by diplomats, artists, scholars, and admirers of Dr. Pande’s work.
In a deeply personal acceptance speech, Dr. Pande reflected on her lifelong dedication to the visual arts and the meaningful role France has played in shaping her intellectual and artistic journey. She began with a quote from Marcel Proust — “If a little dreaming is dangerous, the cure for it is not to dream less, but to dream more, to dream all the time.” — setting the tone for a heartfelt address that blended memory, gratitude, and philosophical insight.
A Journey Rooted in Aesthetics and Culture
Dr. Pande recounted how her first professional connection with France began in 2000 during her post-doctoral studies at Goldsmiths, University of London, when French musicologist Philippe Brugère contacted her after encountering her book Folk Music and Musical Instruments of Punjab at the V&A Museum. This led to her involvement in the landmark exhibition Gloire des Princes, Louange des Dieux at the Cité de la Musique in Paris — a pivotal moment that launched a profound and enduring association with France and its cultural institutions.
“I not only did the scenography for the exhibition but also brought Punjabi performers to Paris,” she recalled, highlighting the richness of artistic exchange that has defined her work ever since.
Bridging Continents Through Art and Erotica
Dr. Pande is perhaps most well-known for her pioneering work in the realm of Indian erotica. Her groundbreaking book Erotisme Indien, published by Roli Books and translated into French, sold over 40,000 copies and introduced a new audience to the layered sensuality and spirituality
of Indian art. This led to her curating the acclaimed exhibition The Spirituality and the Erotic – The Kamasutra at Pinacothèque de Paris in 2014. Spanning four months, the exhibition drew rave reviews and featured over 225 artworks from around the world, supported by an insightful 204-page catalogue with contributions from major international scholars.
Her exploration of the Kamasutra and the aesthetics of desire continues to inform her work, culminating most recently in the launch of her new book Kama Quartet, which was ceremoniously released by Ambassador Mathou at the award event.
France and India: A Shared Language of Art and Beauty
In her address, Dr. Pande painted a compelling picture of the deep interweaving of French and Indian cultural histories. She cited the profound impact of French fashion houses like Dior and Cartier on Indian royals, the inspiration French cinema provided to Indian filmmakers, and the shared reverence for beauty, philosophy, food, and fashion.
She traced a historical arc from Amrita Sher-Gil’s education at École des Beaux-Arts in Paris to the influence of Matisse and Picasso by Indian miniatures, and spoke of her admiration for French intellectuals like André Malraux and Jean-Paul Sartre. “We share passions for beauty and difference,” she said, evoking the spirit of philosopher Jacques Derrida.
A Lifelong Mission
Dr. Pande also reflected on her academic roots, beginning with her doctoral thesis on Ardhanarisvara, the divine symbol of gender unity, which she described as “the tour de force that still guides me.” This concept, she noted, reverberates in many global cultures and continues to inform her exploration of gender, identity, and myth in Indian visual culture.
Now based in Delhi, Dr. Pande has been instrumental in setting up the Visual Arts Gallery at India Habitat Centre and has served as the Project Director and curator of the Bihar Museum Biennale in both 2021 and 2023. Her collaborations with the French Institute in India (IFI), Alliance Française, and the Guimet Museum in Paris continue to thrive, with an upcoming collaboration between the Bihar Museum and Musée Guimet anticipated in 2026.
In recent years, she also featured in two episodes for ARTE, the French-German TV channel, exploring the cultural richness of Khajuraho and Orchha — further testament to her versatility and enduring engagement with international audiences.
A Celebration of Legacy
The ceremony was not only a formal recognition of Dr. Pande’s accomplishments but a heartfelt celebration of her influence and legacy. Accompanying the launch of Kama Quartet was a striking set of six photographs by Sumiko Murgai Nanda, and a screening of the film From the Earth to the Sky, which explores the lives of the Rathwa tribes of Gujarat.
“This award imbues me with added confidence, strength and purpose,” she concluded, “for my single-minded quest to pursue Indian visual arts through the contemporary lens of rasa, beauty, and Indian philosophy.”
The audience rose in applause, not only to honour an award recipient but to celebrate a true custodian of culture — a woman who continues to dream, create, and inspire across boundaries of geography, genre, and generation.
Image Courtesy of Abir Pothi
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