New Delhi
24 January 2008
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has asked India to facilitate the
travel of Bangladeshi exile and writer Taslima Nasreen to France for receiving the Prix
Simone de Beauvoir award.
The communication comes after New Delhi declined a request from the Elysee Palace
(Palais de l'Élysée) to confer the award on Ms Nasreen here, during Mr Sarkozy's two-
day State visit to India from Friday.
The Embassy of France in New Delhi issued a brief statement, which read: "The
President of the French Republic, Mr Nicolas Sarkozy, has asked that Ms Taslima
Nasreen be invited to France so that the prize "Prix Simone de Beauvoir", which has
been awarded to her, may be given to her officially."
"France is grateful to the Indian authorities for all measures that they may kindly take to
facilitate Ms Nasreen's journey to France," the statement added.
The award is instituted in memory of French author Simone de Beauvoir (January 9,
1908 - April 14, 1986.) Mr Sarkozy had desired to honor Ms Nasreen on Simone de
Beauvoir's 100th birth anniversary.
Apparently, the recent violence in India over Ms Nasreen's writings is the reason for
New Delhi declining the French request. Violence was witnessed in West Bengal after
some radical Islamists demanded that she be asked to leave the country for hurting the
sentiments of Muslims through her writings. New Delhi conveyed to the French that Ms
Nasreen was free to travel outside to receive the award given to her for her writings on
women's rights.
Ms Nasreen is staying at an undisclosed location in New Delhi after the Centre decided
to relocate her from Koltata in view of the disturbances in West Bengal. New Delhi has
extended Ms Nasreen's visa by another six months. Her visa would have expired on
February 17. Her visa was last extended on August 10 last year.
In another decision, the French Government has decided to confer the "Ordre des Arts et
des Lettres" on actor Shah Rukh Khan. The actor will be honoured on January 27 at
Mumbai during the inauguration ceremony of "Rendez-vous with French Cinema," the
first French film festival across India.
"Mr Shah Rukh Khan will be honoured with the distinction of Officer of the "Ordre des Arts
et des Lettres" by the Ambassador of France to India, Mr Jerome Bonnafont, in the name
of the President of the French Republic," read a statement issued by the Embassy of
France in New Delhi.
"Shah Rukh Khan belongs to this new and dynamic generation of movie actors who,
beyond stunning performances, embodies the heart and soul of modern India," the
Embassy said.
The "Ordre des Arts et des Lettres" rewards artists who have distinguished themselves
by their creativity in the fields of art, culture and literature or for their contribution to the
influence of arts in France and throughout the world. It is the most significant award in
the field of arts in France. On previous occasions, the award has been conferred on
Arundhati Roy and Sharmila Tagore. Among others, American actors George Clooney,
Clint Eastwood, Meryl Streep, Bruce Willis and Jude Law have been recipients of this
distinction.
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