Macron presents Modi with replica of Charlemagne chessmen, Proust's novels

French president, Emmanuel Macron, presented prime minister Narendra Modi with a framed facsimile of a 1916 photograph showing a Parisian offering some flowers to a Sikh officer, along with a replica of the Charlemagne chessmen dating back to the 11th century, officials said.

The 1916 photograph showing a Parisian offering flowers to a Sikh officer - Image Credit: Twitter

In addition to these gifts, Macron also gave Modi a series of novels, "À la recherche du temps perdu" (In Search of Lost Time) by Marcel Proust, which were published between 1913 and 1927 and are regarded as the most significant works of French literature from the early 20th century.

The 1916 photograph was taken on the Champs-Elysées during the military parade on July 14 by a photo reporter from the Meurisse news agency. The original picture is currently housed at the National Library of France.

The photograph captures a poignant scene, showing a passer-by presenting flowers to a Sikh Viceroy's Commissioned Officer (VCO) from the Indian Expeditionary Force (IEF) deployed in France.

During the time of this snapshot, the IEF was actively engaged in the Battle of the Somme, adding historical significance to the moment frozen in the image.

During World War I, a remarkable number of 1.3 million Indians volunteered to support Britain, with 877,000 of them serving as combatants. Tragically, more than 70,000 Indian soldiers lost their lives in the war, including approximately 9,000 in France and Belgium.

Many of these brave combatants hailed from warrior communities in the northern regions of the Indian subcontinent, exemplified by the presence of Sikh soldiers proudly marching on the Champs-Elysées.

The photograph is a poignant tribute to the valor and sacrifices of the Indian soldiers who fought alongside France during the years 1914-1918. It gains additional significance as it captures the moment when several Indian battalions participated in the parade on the 14th of July, 2023.

Beyond commemorating their joint efforts in the war, the photo also serves as a symbol of the enduring camaraderie between India and France, united in their shared commitment to uphold universal values.

According to officials, Chaturanga, the ancient game from which both European and Chinese chess originated, emerged in India during the seventh century CE.

The name "Charlemagne chessmen" is derived from the legend that these chess pieces were gifted to the Frankish Emperor Charlemagne by the Abbasid Caliph Harun al-Rashid.

In reality, these chessmen were crafted towards the end of the 11th century, likely in southern Italy. This assumption is based on the equipment depicted by the characters on the chess pieces and the presence of elephants represented as bishops.

Replica of the Charlemagne chessmen (11th century) - Image Credit: Twitter

The original chessmen are stored at the Cabinet des Medailles at the National Library of France and were formerly at the Treasury of the Basilica of Saint-Denis.

This reproduction, gifted to the prime minister, is made of bronze-filled PLA comprising the 16 pieces available to the player at the start of a game of chess king, queen, two bishops, two knights, two rooks and eight pawns.

The chessmen were made by the French start-up Cosmyx 3D, which specialises in the 3D printing of art and technical objects, and which took part in the Fabriqu en France (Made in France) exhibition this year.

This unique item represents both the long history of trade between India and Europe, with the elephant piece recalling the Indian origins of the game of chess, and the expertise of French companies in terms of innovation and new technologies, officials said.

Macron also gifted Modi Le temps retrouve (Time Regained), the seventh and final volume of Proust's acclaimed series of novels A la recherche du temps perdu (In Search of Lost Time).

This volume IV of A la recherche du temps perdu (In Search of Lost Time) from the Bibliothque de la Pleiade includes the final two volumes of the original work, Albertine disparue (The Fugitive) and Le temps retrouve (Time Regained), a number of drafts and outlines by the author and much academic commentary. It was published in 1989.

Macron also gifted Modi the English edition, Everyman's Library, which also includes the final two volumes of A la recherche du temps perdu.

The translation is by C K Scott Moncrieff (1889-1930), a contemporary of Proust and the original translator of Proust into English, as revised by Terence Kilmartin (1922-1991).

This version is considered to be one of the best English translations of Proust.

The Bibliotheque de la Pleiade collection represents academic excellence and the most outstanding contributions of French authors to world culture. As Modi does not speak French, this edition comes with an English translation.

(PTI)