I am a French journalist and writer, married to an Indian for 35 years and living in India. I have written many books on Indian History, both in French and English, but at some point I realised that a Museum of Indian History would put in art and stone what I believe in - for generations to come. Therefore, my wife Namrita & I, started in Pune twelve years ago a Museum of Indian History, dedicated to the great Shivaji Maharaj, which has today 23 pavilions, a library, a video-room, and a unique Bharat Mata temple (see photos below). This is a sewa project as my wife & I continue with our respective jobs: she, as a textile designer and myself as a journalist and writer (attached my two latest french books, which came out in March in Paris). Entry is free, and last year we got 15,000 visitors, many of them students and school children. We are now starting two important projects: one Aryabhata who revolutionised mathematics and astronomy, and whose work reached Europe, being translated into Arabic and brought to Spain.

The other is on Adi Shankaracharya, who reformed Hinduism in a very short time, and whose life, travelling the four corners of India by foot, is absolutely extraordinary.

We need approximately 12 lakhs for the paintings for each exhibition (our painter is Mrs Anjali Hugay, renown artist from Pune, who charges us 25k by painting, and we commissioned approx 50 of them). And about 28 lakhs for the AC building that will house the exhibitions. So a total of 80 lakhs for both project. Would you be able to donate some of this amount? We have both Indian and US taxes exemption.

BIO

François Gautier (francoisgautier.com) was the political correspondent in South Asia during ten years for « Le Figaro », France’s largest daily. He is now the editor in chief of the Paris-based La Revue de l’Inde, published by Les Editions de l’Harmattan (Harmattan.fr). He has interviewed eight Prime Ministers of India, written 31 books, both in English and in French. Francois is building with his wife Namrita, a Museum of true Indian History in Pune (factmuseum.com) which has today 23 pavilions and many exhibitions from the Vedas to Dara Shikoh, from Shivaji Maharaj to Maharana Pratap. François, who shuttles between Delhi, Pune and Auroville, is married for 35 years to Namrita.

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