‘French’ship day in Delhi

FRENCH CONNECTION: When one enters the French embassy in the capital, there’s a huge poster with pictures of Jawaharlal Nehru at the entrance.
While ministers and ambassadors of the two countries have changed, the spirit of goodwill remains the same between India and France. So, it wasn’t surprising to meet minister of state, culture, planning and parliamentary affairs V Narayanasamy at this do hosted by French ambassador Jerome Bonnafont to celebrate the French National Day.
DIPLOMATIC GOODBYES: Shifting out is always time consuming, and that’s exactly why the American ambassador Steven White came minus wife to this neighbourhood do (the French and American embassies are adjacent). “She was too tired to dress up after a full day of packing boxes,” said White, who has subsequently left the country. But, it isn’t only the American ambassador who’s bidding adieu – even the Italian ambassador Roberto Toscano told us that he’ll be returning to Rome soon.
FASHION, BOYS? For those who thought it’s only the women who gush over new outfits, the exchange between old friends – actor Nasser Abdullah and director Anwar Jamal – was an interesting anomaly. Impressed by Anwar’s blue Nehru jacket, Nasser insisted that his friend get him one too.
IN ALEXANDER’S SHOES: Think that diplomats are serious folks? Well, the Macedonian ambassador Peter Jovanovski changed the perception for us. Talking about his country and Alexander, the Great, he joked, “I’m the greatest traveller after Alexander. I’ve travelled to Nepal and parts of South East Asia that he never explored.