May 06 2022 to May 21 2022 11 a.m.

EVENT HAS ENDED

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

The meeting of Jacques Blamont, founder of the French Space Agency (CNES) and Vikram Sarabhai, father of the Indian space programme, at the fifth general assembly of the Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) in Washington DC in 1962 paved the way for the Indian space programme on 21 November 1963 with the launch of a sodium vapour payload from Thumba brought to India by Jacques Blamont. This was followed by more rocket-based experiments at ISRO that were supported by CNES. But that’s not all!

The history of science and technology is dotted with stories that point to the invaluable, though little known partnership between French and Indian ‘adventurers and pioneers’: scientists, academicians, entrepreneurs, institutions, engineers and governments. Across mathematics, medicine, nuclear science, biodiversity, aviation, physics, visual analytics, locomotives, astronomy, cartography and more, this shared history is essentially about people.

This exhibition peeks into rare snippets of the prized Tata Central Archives; into Airbus’ geospatial digital platform; presenting some surprising records from the Institut Français de Pondichéry: a repository of international research in cultures, environments and societies in South Asia; and delves into the memories and testimonies of inspirational personalities from India and France.

The Science Beyond Borders initiative of the Institut Français in India takes you on a first-of-its-kind journey into this extraordinary history with stories of exchange between the top minds of the two countries across centuries right until the modern-day. This history is still unravelling and more stories will join this fascinating narrative of knowledge sharing, of shared adventures and above all, of fellowship.

Presented by the Ambassade de France en Inde (French Embassy in India), Institut Français en Inde (French Institute in India) and Alliance Française India.

Curated by Institut Français en Inde (French Institute in India).