Colloquium: Travel Literature in French and Francophone Literature Banaras Hindu University 23-25 February 2017

20th February 2017

The Embassy of France in India gives prime importance to strengthening cultural relations between India and France through the promotion of French culture and French language in India.

As part of this initiative, the Embassy of France and Institut français India will support the international French-language symposium on the theme of “Travel in French and Francophone Literature“ (Le récit de voyage dans la littérature française et francophone). The colloquium is organised by the French Department at Banaras Hindu University.

Colloquium : Travel Literature in French and Francophone Literature
Banaras Hindu University
23-25 February 2017

Travel narrative is one of the oldest literary genres. Numerous authors - including Jean de Léry, Nerval, Gautier, P. Loti, Segalen, Morand, A. Gide, Kessel, Cendrars, Lévi Strauss, Michaux, Leiris, Butor, Le Clézio, Lacarrière, Réda, Bouvier and others - have tried this nomadic literary genre in which they share their experiences during a journey. The link between travel and literature is as old as history and literature, but the two are far from being of the same nature. Although this relationship between travel and literature exists since the origins of literature, it gained even more significance during the 20th Century. What could this passion be attributed to? What does one look for in these initiatory peregrinations and in these ritualised shifts? What does one discover in oneself and what representations of ‘the other’ emerge out of it? With the rise of globalisation and pluralism what clarity do travel stories bring out regarding the questions of alterity and cultural identity? What kind of relationships emerge when differences come together? And especially, what are the forms of conciliation and adaptation that emerge? Such are the problematics addressed by the symposium.

Alongside of a rich panorama of authors and university scholars from India and Francophone countries, The Embassy of France has invited Mr. Nicolas Deleau, writer, painter, traveller, author of Les rois d’ailleurs and recipient of a prize in the category of travel literature at the festival of Amazing Travellers (Etonnants Voyageurs) at Saint Malo, France. Deleau shall be presenting a paper on “Narrating the world: a few issues in writing”.