Chantal Delobel-Ardino
Welcome to the world of a lover of India, cats, astrology and writing ...
From Ardennes to India
Charleville-Mézières, Arthur Rimbaud's birth place ...... The poet hated his city, which is not my case. I was born there, in 1951, as a " carolopolitaine ", as at that time, Charleville and Mézières were two different cities. Since then, according to the law, I would have become a " carolomacérienne ", but my “rebellious” side made that I persist in defining myself a " carolopolitaine ".
At eight, my parents gave me my first dictionary and I discover, amazed, the world maps… Asia! With a pen, I drew a route going from France towards…. INDIA!
I had no idea of what this country could be but deep in me something was already attracting me towards the East.
After several moving and my studies completed, I have settled in Nice, working in the real estate business for almost fifteen years, when suddenly health problems forced me to stop my activity.
And it was at that time, while it seemed that I was hitting rock bottom, in the ‘80s, that INDIA sent me a signal... something very common... Yoga, which, thanks to very beautiful meetings, put me on the way.
At eight, my parents gave me my first dictionary and I discover, amazed, the world maps… Asia! With a pen, I drew a route going from France towards…. INDIA!
I had no idea of what this country could be but deep in me something was already attracting me towards the East.
After several moving and my studies completed, I have settled in Nice, working in the real estate business for almost fifteen years, when suddenly health problems forced me to stop my activity.
And it was at that time, while it seemed that I was hitting rock bottom, in the ‘80s, that INDIA sent me a signal... something very common... Yoga, which, thanks to very beautiful meetings, put me on the way.
With Doctor Charak, in Jammu, preparing for a medical camp
Then... in 2005, GUJARAT... love at first sight, an authentic place, still far from mass tourism which "damaged" - it is necessary to tell it - its neighbour Rajasthan. An immediate contact with these people whose hospitality is legendary but still totally alive, people also proud to have given to India the symbol of its freedom, Mahatma Gandhi. The South of Gujarat is rich in historical places, in architectural heritage, in wonderful beaches, in natural reserves... that give the desire to continue the discovery… why not to the North?
Second love at first sight, KUTCH, this immense area, at the edge of the salt desert, an absolutely fascinating place, with many tribal zones perpetuating their customs, their art… an atmosphere that literally captivated me.
Here too, a beautiful meeting, Pramod Jethi, the curator of Aina Mahal Museum in Bhuj, a living encyclopedia who knows how to convey the passion he feels for his region. An amazing man with whom I got on well immediately. A photographer and writer who organizes customized tours for the tourists he meets. He wishes to protect his Kutch so it won't become a new Goa.
Second love at first sight, KUTCH, this immense area, at the edge of the salt desert, an absolutely fascinating place, with many tribal zones perpetuating their customs, their art… an atmosphere that literally captivated me.
Here too, a beautiful meeting, Pramod Jethi, the curator of Aina Mahal Museum in Bhuj, a living encyclopedia who knows how to convey the passion he feels for his region. An amazing man with whom I got on well immediately. A photographer and writer who organizes customized tours for the tourists he meets. He wishes to protect his Kutch so it won't become a new Goa.
With Pramod Jethi, in front of Aina Mahal
Since then, again and again, I had this desire to go back to Gujarat and to stay longer. I needed to go deeper and to understand why this State is different. The fate put on my path persons who knew how to sharpen my curiosity. They told me about their lives, about the changes they had lived during these last years. And a name came back all the time... Narendra Modi. Either loved or hated, but who does not leave anybody unmoved.
Through readings, I discovered his surprising life. The character seems complex. Why so many praises and so much hate against him? However, he is unanimously said very approachable, receiving all those who want to meet him.... What if I tried? I did, and succeeded!
Through readings, I discovered his surprising life. The character seems complex. Why so many praises and so much hate against him? However, he is unanimously said very approachable, receiving all those who want to meet him.... What if I tried? I did, and succeeded!
A project … writing !
My first book
“Narendra Modi – A life for India”
My first book
“Narendra Modi – A life for India”
With Narendra Modi in his Sachivalaya’s office
Hiraba Modi, the Chief-Minister’s mother. A woman with an incredibly sharp mind for her age, and who exudes an uncommon energy in spite of her fragile aspect.
Or still…
Myia Hussein Gulbeg, an amazing man, fully involved in the evolution of his village, and more particularly the condition of women.
And so many others who somehow helped me to make this book exist and who contributed to make of my stays in Gujarat an extraordinary experience. During all these months, I received a lot and I think I have been extremely lucky to be able to develop ties in every stratum of the society. Some will remain friends while I will probably never meet again some others. But anyway, all of them will remain in my heart, ready to live again at the first opportunity: a word, an image….. India!
Giving birth to this book was an adventure for me, a long period of excitement where nothing else mattered. I hope that you will have pleasure reading it, as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Giving birth to this book was an adventure for me, a long period of excitement where nothing else mattered. I hope that you will have pleasure reading it, as much as I enjoyed writing it.
From then, nothing has ever been the same, another look on things of life was set up, I discover Jyotish, the Indian traditional astrology thanks to a teacher who also opened my mind to the thought of India, to its culture, and gave me, in 1990, the opportunity of a first stay in India which has been be a key for the rest of my life.
That year, I landed in Chennai (former Madras) and it was in this Tamil Nadu marked with Dravidian culture that, step-by-step, I grasped this Earth… Immediately I perceived that I would not be able to do without India, that a part of myself would stay there forever.
Since then, I have returned regularly to explore the diverse facets of this vast country, from Kanya Kumari, at the extreme South, up to the springs of Ganga, in Himalaya, every new stay bringing its lot of discoveries, meetings, enjoyments, hazards also, because India is good at putting you to the test, before accepting you. There is rarely half-measure in the relationship with India… either you adore it and it accepts you, or you hate it and never go again. India accepted me and for that, I am infinitely grateful.
Every place brought me something precious, multiple meetings, persons who helped me to feel more and more at home in this country.
At the beginning of 2000s, I came across a remarkable doctor, K.S. Charak, a surgeon who set up a volunteers' team to go to treat and operate on in the poorest regions, totally free of charge. It has been the beginning of a commitment by their side, the creation of a charitable association "Samvedanà" to help them, and the participation to three camps in the North of India... Much later, I learnt that he was among the first ones, in 2001, to go in Kutch, after the earthquake to offer his help as a surgeon.
That year, I landed in Chennai (former Madras) and it was in this Tamil Nadu marked with Dravidian culture that, step-by-step, I grasped this Earth… Immediately I perceived that I would not be able to do without India, that a part of myself would stay there forever.
Since then, I have returned regularly to explore the diverse facets of this vast country, from Kanya Kumari, at the extreme South, up to the springs of Ganga, in Himalaya, every new stay bringing its lot of discoveries, meetings, enjoyments, hazards also, because India is good at putting you to the test, before accepting you. There is rarely half-measure in the relationship with India… either you adore it and it accepts you, or you hate it and never go again. India accepted me and for that, I am infinitely grateful.
Every place brought me something precious, multiple meetings, persons who helped me to feel more and more at home in this country.
At the beginning of 2000s, I came across a remarkable doctor, K.S. Charak, a surgeon who set up a volunteers' team to go to treat and operate on in the poorest regions, totally free of charge. It has been the beginning of a commitment by their side, the creation of a charitable association "Samvedanà" to help them, and the participation to three camps in the North of India... Much later, I learnt that he was among the first ones, in 2001, to go in Kutch, after the earthquake to offer his help as a surgeon.
Ahmedabad is an amazing city where I really feel at home. Yet, most of tourist guides define it as an infernal, dusty city and the rare western tourists I met there had usually only a single desire: staying as short as possible, just one or two days, to make arrangements for their visits to Gujarati sites.
Even though, I like this city where, stay after stay " I made a niche for myself". I have been through the scorching days of May, when the mercury goes up to 48°C and when walking two hundred meters in the sun becomes a challenge. I have lived the monsoon’s beginning, long awaited but which makes the city impracticable in a few minutes. I have also experimented there the “winter’s days” when the differences in temperature between day and night are tremendous.... I have spent months there and in another page, I will take you there, with some pictures.....
This is where I wrote the main part of my book, immersed in the Indian atmosphere. Learning patience day after day, as I was going along with my procedures, my researches. As after meeting Narendra Modi, I decided to write this work on his life. The way has been long and full of pitfalls to collect information and get interviews with him. A proverb says that India teaches patience to who doesn't own it and costs it to those who had it… India has taught me how to calm my eagerness. I must say… almost…
Even though, I like this city where, stay after stay " I made a niche for myself". I have been through the scorching days of May, when the mercury goes up to 48°C and when walking two hundred meters in the sun becomes a challenge. I have lived the monsoon’s beginning, long awaited but which makes the city impracticable in a few minutes. I have also experimented there the “winter’s days” when the differences in temperature between day and night are tremendous.... I have spent months there and in another page, I will take you there, with some pictures.....
This is where I wrote the main part of my book, immersed in the Indian atmosphere. Learning patience day after day, as I was going along with my procedures, my researches. As after meeting Narendra Modi, I decided to write this work on his life. The way has been long and full of pitfalls to collect information and get interviews with him. A proverb says that India teaches patience to who doesn't own it and costs it to those who had it… India has taught me how to calm my eagerness. I must say… almost…
This whole period of researches, even if it sometimes tested severely my nerves, will nevertheless remain an extremely rich moment in my life. It has opened me on another way of being and thinking. It has taught me the absolute necessity to adapt oneself to the place, the customs and habits of its population. It is impossible to transpose here our habits, our requirements and our priorities, and for that India is expert in guiding us towards understanding.... “What has to be will be and what does not have to be will not be”. It is useless to will at any cost, you shall accept the situation and know how to seize the opportunity when it appears… Always be ready and seize the day: this is the founding principle of Indian philosophy, profoundly rooted in each and every one, be he a rickshaw driver or the Minister.
Easier said than done and of course it would be a lie to say that it was a bed of roses. There were moments of doubt, discouragement, sleepless nights, but there were also meetings that took a toll on me, like...
Easier said than done and of course it would be a lie to say that it was a bed of roses. There were moments of doubt, discouragement, sleepless nights, but there were also meetings that took a toll on me, like...