University of Lyon, Lectures

Reached Lyon on 14th December, 2013.  I had few lectures in the University of Lyon.Lyons is the third largest city in France. It  is shaped by its two rivers, the Rhône (to the East) and the Saône (to the West). The old town between the two rivers is a beautiful mix of ancient and the modern.  This gateway to the Alps enfolds Roman ruins, Renaissance-era architecture, abundant art spaces, renovated riverfronts and a lot of buildings with  futuristic architecture. It is known as a gastronomic and historical city with a vibrant cultural scene. It is also the birthplace of cinema. Founded by the Romans, with many preserved historical areas, Lyon is the archetype of the heritage city, as recognised by UNESCO. France’s most celebrated chef, the octogenarian Paul Bocuse, hails from Lyon, and the city’s bouchons — homey restaurants serving rustic, traditional cuisine — are famous countrywide. We had dinner in one such restaurant and the food was delicious. Early traces of settlement date back to 12,000 BC but there is no evidence of continuous occupation prior to the Roman era. Lugdunum, the Roman name of the city, was officially founded in 43 BC by Lucius Munatius Plancus, then Governor of Gaul. The first Roman settlements were on Fourvière hill, and the first inhabitants were probably veterans of Caesar's war campaigns. The development of the city was boosted by its strategic location and it was promoted Capital of Gauls in 27 BC. The Roman theatre in Fourvière, the most important remain of the Roman city of Lugdunum.This is a  get-up-and-go place, not a lie-back-and-rest one, with an almost Swiss sense of cleanliness, order and efficiency.

In Brussels

 We used the  time in Arras to travel to Brussels the capital of Belgium and reached here on 1st December, 2013. Brussels is known as Bruxelles (French) / Brussels (Dutch).  Starting as the 10th-century fortress town founded by the descendants of Charlemagne , Brussels has an ancient past that goes down to medieval ages.  It is today divided into three regions Flanders in the north (Dutch), Wallonia in the south (French) and Brussels in the centre (Bilingual). Many of the important landmarks are known with the name of Charlemagne who is seen as the person who united Europe in the beginning of the medieval world. Today, Brussels is the  centre of European politics, with the European Commission, the European Parliament and NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) operating from here. Though very cold there is a festicvity in the air and Christmas being around the corner the streets are decorated and lighted.

The French system of Education

 

I have been interacting so much with students of different levels here in France in Arras, in Paris  that

I am very impressed with their system of education. In all these years in India rarely did I  interact with

school or Intermediate system of education( unless I am  invited as a chief guest ) but here I was invited

to speak to different groups  of students from different levels of schooling. The management had informed

the students before hand, two days in advance about  the topic I was going to speak on. The students had

all come prepared with questions about India and asked me many questions, especially about women's

issues and women's movements or some aspect of Indian history. I feel bad that we hardly have any

analytical system of education in India and it is just by rote that our students study. I had young students

as old as thirteen fourteen ask me, can you tell me some thing about your caste system, how do you think

this effects India or  why is there so much reporting of rape now. Do you think this is a media hype and

what do you see as a change in India.

When I give a talk all the student sit before their lap tops typing away. I am not sure why the management

wants these students to be there.Are they  sent to practice their English language and to get some

general knowledge about  India or Indian history, that  is not at all a part of their syllabus.In some classes

I have a mix of students who are in post graduate and some in elementary school all sitting together.

I have hardly done this kind of lecturing in India and keep wondering while I speak what will this young

children get from what I  am speaking.  But I am truly impressed at the efforts made by the

management to expose students to  different views.

The French Cuisine

 Wherever, Suresh and I  are invite to speak in Paris it is followed by elaborate lunches and we have learnt a lot about French cuisine. In 2010, UNESCO added French cuisine to the list of cultural objects that are called ‘intangible cultural heritage’. The history of French cuisine dates back to the middle ages. During this time French meals where very similar to Moorish Cuisine, and were served in a style called service en confusion, meaning that meals were served all at once. Meals consisted of spiced meats such as pork, beef, poultry, and fish. Catherine De Medicis (a Florentine princess) who married Henry duc d'Orleans (who became King Henry II of France) influence French cusine to a great extent. Italian chefs where light years of ahead of French culinary experts, and had already begun creating dishes such as lasagna, manicotti, and had experimented using ingredients like truffles, garlic, and mushrooms. When Catherine married King Henry II, she brought along with her Italian chefs who in turn introduced Italian culinary practices to the French court. Even though the culinary cultures of these two countries have taken different roads, the French owe much of their culinary development to the Italians and their intervention in the 1500s.  Between the 17 th and 18 th century there was a development in Haute Cuisine or “High Cuisine”, and its origins can be found in the recipes of a chef named La Varenne. In the late 19 th century and early 20 th century there began a modernization of haute cuisine. Much of this new cuisine owes its development to Georges Auguste Escoffier.

A note about the french Education system

 The French education system is split into three stages: primary school (école), secondary school (collège) and high school (lycée). Primary and secondary education is free, neutral, secular and compulsory between the ages of 6 and 16. However, there are some private schools that are not subject to these obligations and particularities of the French education system.The primary school curriculum in France is similar to that in other countries, and includes literacy and numeracy, with classes in French, arithmetic, but also geography and history, the arts, and more and more frequently a foreign language, Middle school. Four levels, normally for pupils aged 11 - 15. The "collège unique" is the backbone of the French school system. All pupils go to collège, usually at age 11. The baccalauréat, France colloquially as le bac, is an academic qualification take at the end of the lycée (secondary education). It was introduced by Napoleon I in 1808. It is the main diploma required to pursue university studies. Unlike English "A levels" or Scottish "highers", the baccalaureate is a unitary exam, that pupils pass or fail. It is impossible to pass in one subject and fail in others. The only mark that counts is the final weighted average, which must be at last 10/20 for a pupil to pass. Pupils who achieve just under 10/20 are often passed by the exam board, whose decision is final. This is an exam which is said to be very difficult and I saw very serious studies being undertaken to pass this exam.

In Brussels

 We used the  time in Arras to travel to Brussels the capital of Belgium and reached here on 1st December, 2013. Brussels is known as Bruxelles (French) / Brussels (Dutch).  Starting as the 10th-century fortress town founded by the descendants of Charlemagne , Brussels has an ancient past that goes down to medieval ages.  It is today divided into three regions Flanders in the north (Dutch), Wallonia in the south (French) and Brussels in the centre (Bilingual). Many of the important landmarks are known with the name of Charlemagne who is seen as the person who united Europe in the beginning of the medieval world. Today, Brussels is the  centre of European politics, with the European Commission, the European Parliament and NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) operating from here. Though very cold there is a festicvity in the air and Christmas being around the corner the streets are decorated and lighted.

With out rice and Chapati

 Ha, I have been calculating . In France, this is my tenth day with out any chapati or rice and I have been eating only French salads and French food which is light. At this rate I am sure going to give a Bollywood heroine a run for her money. I already feel so nice and slim.