Initiating the revival of ties between Punjab and Saint Tropez, Henri Allard is touring the country, looking for shared heritage. GANITA reports
They say relationships may be forgotten but they never die. So the fifth generation descendant of the French chief commander of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s army against the British is seeking to renew ties with his second home after 200 years. Jean-Francois Allard was sent to India by Emperor louis Philippe of France to help Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the 1820s. He rose to be a general in the Fauj-e-Khas and became chief commander. Subsequently, he married the princess of Chamba, Banu Pan Dei. His great great grandson Henri Prevost-Allard is now here and wants to set up the bust of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Saint Tropez, of which he is deputy mayor, next to the bust of Jean Allard and Banu Pan Dei.
“We were in Chandigarh two days ago because the Punjab government had decided to offer the bust of Maharaja Ranjit Singh to Saint Tropez in order to install it at Allard Square in September. On this occasion, we will organise a tribute. There will be exhibitions on the history of Sikhs from Guru Nanak to 1849, French and Indian military links and cooperation and north Indian culture. The general aim of this event is to illustrate the role of Maharaja Ranjit Singh as an intermediary in Indo-French relations. It is also aimed at giving visibility to Sikh communities in Europe and France in particular,” Henri told us.
He continued, “France and India have a long history together. Now we French, along with the help of the Indian government, are trying to revive these ties. Three years ago we started two festivals, Bon Jour India in India and Namaste France in France.” Ranjit Singh’s bust is made of bronze, similar to the kind used for the statue of Jean Allard and his wife.
Recounting the robbery of antique paintings of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Henri sighed, “I had original paintings of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Bano Pan Dei. But someone robbed the precious paintings around 35 years ago at gunpoint. They also robbed some other precious works of art. Both the paintings were made in lahore and were not exhibited anywhere at any point of time.”
Jean Allard, afraid of the sati ritual in India, sent his wife and sons to Saint Tropez. “He saw Sati happening in India and he did not want his wife to be burried along with him after his death. So he once returned to France to settle his family before going back to Punjab,” said Henri. Jean died in Punjab and was buried in lahore. The British at the time did not alow Allard’s family to visit. “Our family lost all its connection with our Indian ancestry. We never saw anyone from my great great grandmother’s side. But now we are keen on rediscovering our roots. I am hoping to meet someone from the Indian ancestry soon,” hoped Henri.
“Under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, every religion flourished in Punjab. He was a great king and a great human. That’s what I have learnt from my ancestors,” he ended.
