French connection: The general who rests in Anarkali

LAHORE:

France never colonised the Sub-Continent but it shares some history with the region, Punjab in particular. General Allard, a French soldier, served in Ranjeet Singh’s army and helped train his troops.

The general and his daughter Mary Charlotte spent their lives in Lahore, and were buried after their deaths in Anarkali.

The Alliance is holding a discussion on General Allard and his Mary Charlotte’s life in the province next week as part of a week-long celebration of French language and culture.

The events to be held at Lahore University of Management Sciences will include an exhibition of French-Pakistani artist Ijaz Malik on Monday, a session about the life and works of French diplomat and poet Saint John Perse on Tuesday, French and Pakistani ambassadors’ talk on diplomatic relations between the two countries on Wednesday and a piano concert on Thursday.

The week will conclude with the session on the life of the French general on Friday.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29^th, 2012.