https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Alliance_Fran%C3%A7aise_de_MadrasAlliance Française de Madras - Revision history2026-08-01T01:47:31ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Alliance_Fran%C3%A7aise_de_Madras&diff=474779&oldid=prevBrandon81T at 03:19, 30 March 20262026-03-30T03:19:21Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Franco-Indian non-profit association in Chennai, India}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}<br />
{{Infobox organization<br />
| name = Alliance Française of Madras<br />''L'Alliance Française de Madras''<br />
| logo = Alliancefrancaiselogo.png<br />
| logo_size = 180px<br />
| type = French cultural and language center<br />
| founded_date = 10 August 1953<br />
| founder = <br />
| location = 24, College Road, [[Nungambakkam]], [[Chennai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]<br />
| origins = Le Groupe Français (1948)<br />
| leader_title3 = Secretary<br />
| leader_name3 = Aswin Suren<br />
| key_people = '''Deputy Director / Course Director''': Gisèle Pio<br />
| area_served = [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]]<br />
| product = French [[Culture of France|cultural]] and [[French language|language]] education<br />
| focus = <br />
| headquarters = Chennai<br />
| method = <br />
| revenue = <br />
| endowment = <br />
| num_volunteers = <br />
| num_employees = <br />
| num_members = <br />
| subsid = <br />
| owner = <br />
| leader_title = Director<br />
| leader_name = Patricia Théry-Hart<br />
| leader_title2 = President<br />
| leader_name2 = Durgaprasad TK<br />
| Non-profit_slogan = <br />
| dissolved = <br />
| footnotes = <br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Alliance Française of Madras''' ([[French language|French]]: L'Alliance Française de Madras) is an Indo-French cultural centre and non-profit association in [[Chennai]], [[India]], that works to promote the cultural relations between India and [[France]] in [[Tamil Nadu]] and also with a mission to teach the [[French language]] to the people in the region. It was established in the year 1953.<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
The city's relations with France date back to the 18th century.<ref name="TH_Espace24"/> In 1948, a French Group, consisting mostly of Indian citizens, was formed to spread the [[French language]] and [[French culture|culture]]. Four years later, on 10 August 1953, the group officially joined the Alliance Française network, registered under the Indian Societies Act XXI of 1860. <br />
<br />
In 1991, the Translation Cell of Alliance Française of Madras was founded.<br />
<br />
In December 2022, a new building with the gallery "Espace 24" was opened in the premises to house the centre for cultural research and studies.<ref name="TH_Espace24">{{cite news<br />
| last = <br />
| first = <br />
| title =Alliance Française of Madras gets a new building<br />
| newspaper = The Hindu<br />
| location = Chennai<br />
| pages = <br />
| language = <br />
| publisher = Kasturi & Sons<br />
| date = 19 December 2022<br />
| url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/alliance-fran%C3%A7aise-of-madras-gets-a-new-building/article66282382.ece<br />
| access-date = 27 January 2023}}</ref> The building has classrooms and event spaces and hosts art and cultural exhibitions.<ref name="TH_Espace24"/><br />
<br />
==Institution==<br />
Alliance Française of Madras is part of the network of the 14 [[Alliance Française|Alliances Françaises]] in India, under the jurisdiction of the Embassy of France in [[New Delhi]] and of the larger network of [[Alliance française|Alliances Françaises]] in 136 countries around the world, which themselves come under the Fondation Alliance Française in [[Paris]].<br />
<br />
The Alliance Française of Madras is situated in College Road, [[Nungambakkam]]. It is governed by an Executive Committee consisting of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three Executive Members. The premises covers more than {{convert|2,600|m2}} and includes a garden, parking spaces and the main building. The building occupies {{convert|1,700|m2}} spread over three floors. There are classrooms, an exhibition gallery, a library-cum-multimedia centre, an auditorium and a cafeteria (''La Cantine''). The library-cum-multimedia centre situated at the entrance covers 130 sq m and was renovated in 2008. It has four rooms. It is open on all days except Sundays. The Edouard Michelin Auditorium, which can accommodate 180 persons, is used for film projections, plays, lectures and discussions.<br />
<br />
About 3,000 students enroll at the Alliance Française of Madras every year to learn French.<ref>{{cite news<br />
| last = Kannan<br />
| first = Uma<br />
| title = Job seekers interested in learning foreign languages<br />
| newspaper = Deccan Chronicle<br />
| location = Chennai<br />
| publisher = Deccan Chronicle<br />
| date = 3 May 2012<br />
| url = http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/chennai/job-seekers-interested-learning-foreign-languages-104<br />
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120504110038/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/chennai/job-seekers-interested-learning-foreign-languages-104<br />
| url-status = dead<br />
| archive-date = 4 May 2012<br />
| access-date = 4 May 2012}}</ref><br />
The Alliance française de Madras is only centre in Tamil Nadu to offer DELF and DALF examinations, as well as French language assessment of CCIP (Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Paris) such as TEF and DFP.<br />
<br />
The Alliance Française of Madras also has branches outside Chennai, in [[Coimbatore]] and [[Trichy]].<ref>{{cite news<br />
| title = Alliance Française of Madras opens branch in Trichy<br />
| location = Tiruchi<br />
| date = 26 March 2010<br />
| url = http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/26/stories/2010032659400200.htm<br />
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100331032000/http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/26/stories/2010032659400200.htm<br />
| url-status = dead<br />
| archive-date = 31 March 2010<br />
| newspaper = [[The Hindu]]<br />
| access-date = 4 May 2012}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Publication==<br />
''Prélude'' (Prelude) is a monthly programme published by the Alliance Française of Madras. It provides information about the cultural events and the language courses scheduled for the next two months. The 16-page newsletter in color is made available only to the members of the Alliance, although it is distributed during events at the Alliance or given to occasional visitors.<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Portal|India}}<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
* Homepage of [https://madras.afindia.org/ Alliance Française de Madras]<br />
*Homepage of [https://afindia.org/learn-french/ Alliance Française in India]<br />
<br />
<br />
{{Chennai topics}}<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alliance Francaise de Madras}}<br />
[[Category:Cultural centres in Chennai]]<br />
[[Category:Universities and colleges in Chennai]]<br />
[[Category:Organisations based in Chennai]]<br />
[[Category:1953 establishments in Madras State]]<br />
[[Category:Alliance Française]]<br />
[[Category:France–India relations]]<br />
[[Category:Organizations established in 1953]]</div>Brandon81T