Malayalam publisher awarded French honour Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres

The Ambassador of France to India, H.E. Mr Thierry Mathou, conferred the insignia of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) on Ravi Deecee, Publisher and Managing Director of DC Books, at a ceremony held at the Embassy of France on December 4. The event brought together eminent personalities from India’s literary and cultural spheres, celebrating Mr Deecee’s decades-long influence on the publishing landscape.

During the investiture, Ambassador Thierry Mathou said, "Ravi Deecee has spearheaded the transformation of D.C Books into one of India’s leading publishing houses, building a catalogue of renowned French works translated into Malayalam. In his various capacities, Deecee harnesses the power of ink and paper to enable the exchange of knowledge across cultures, languages, and countries."

France's conferral of this prestigious award on Deecee recognizes his commitment to multilingualism, literary innovation, and global cultural collaboration. Central to this mission, DC Books publishes Malayalam translations of leading French works, including titles by Annie Ernaux, Céline, Johanna Gustawsson, Jean-Paul Sartre, Emmanuel Carrère, David Diop, and Maryse Condé.

Accepting the award, Ravi Deecee said, "As I receive this honour, I am reminded that the most meaningful legacy is not what we leave behind, but what we leave within others. My family's three-generation journey in Malayalam publishing grew from this belief. Books shape values, expand imagination, and nurture empathy across cultures. In that sense, literature is one of the most enduring gifts we can offer society."

In addition to publishing, DC Books has played a pivotal role in bringing international authors to Kerala through its Vagamon Writer Residency, which has been part of the Villa Swagatam programme of the French Embassy since its very inception. This sustained collaboration reflects DC Books and the French Embassy's shared commitment to supporting creative exchange, translation, and cultural diplomacy.

Instituted in 1957, the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) holds a unique place at the heart of French cultural policy. It recognizes those who have made remarkable contributions to the promotion and enrichment of arts and culture in France and around the world. For over sixty-five years, the order has honoured creators, thinkers, visionaries, and cultural ambassadors. Among the distinguished figures of the first cohort were Le Corbusier and Marcel Pagnol, giants whose work shaped the artistic horizon of the twentieth century.

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