Alliance Française de Delhi recently announced Patricia Loison as its new Director. Born in New Delhi and raised in France, Patricia spoke to us in an interview about her upbringing and her vision for the institute. Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia charted history by becoming the first Indian filmmaker to win the CannesGrand Prix award for ‘All We Imagine as Light’.
Patricia Loison shares, “I was proud, as someone born here, to see an Indian woman Payal Kapadia celebrated for her independent work.”
Below are some excerpts from that conversation –
“Exposing our students to the films we screen here can ignite their interest in independent cinema“
Indian cinema, especially Bollywood, is what sells the most, and it’s what the Indian audience predominantly watches. However, by investing in and offering a platform for independent cinema, Alliance Française de Delhi is sharing French and European culture with young Indian audiences. By showcasing independent films, Alliance Française also provides opportunities for the audience to engage with global cinema.
Patricia spoke about the importance of understanding students’ motivations for learning French. She explained, “When we identify why students want to learn French, it helps us curate better language courses. Sometimes, they need French because they want to spend time in Canada or Africa to start a business. We need to be hands-on in understanding these motivations and tailoring our courses to meet their specific needs. It’s a little less romantic and more practical. For students applying for jobs or internships, we offer interview preparation in French. We also provide industry-specific training for companies that need to upskill their staff. The demand is here, but we need to be kind of a modern school – rooted in our culture while staying relevant to current trends.”
Young Indians learning at Alliance Française de Delhi are also benefiting from the institute’s adaptation to the evolving landscape of social media and corporate needs, which is influencing how modern languages are taught today.
Patricia says that exposing students to French independent films can spark their interest in exploring India’s independent cinema as well.
Patricia
‘Writing became a way for me to reclaim the narrative of my life’
Patricia was born in Delhi and was adopted by a young French couple, Gisèle and Christian Loison. Growing up in a Parisian suburb with her adopted brother from Lebanon, Patricia maintained close family ties, particularly enjoying gatherings in Brittany, Normandy, and the French Alps.
Speaking about her childhood, Patricia shared, “The image I had of India as a baby, a little girl, and later as a teenager was quite limited. Most of the images and impressions we had of India were centered around figures like Mother Teresa. For a long time, India in Europe was perceived as a difficult place, where people fought for survival amidst inequality. It didn’t seem attractive at all when I was a teenager – not like the USA, which appeared bright and full of promise at the time.”
She explained that her parents, after adopting her, shared all the information they had, though it was limited. “The nuns who facilitated the adoption either didn’t know much or weren’t willing to share details about my biological family,” she said. “Even if I had wanted to search for my roots, there wasn’t any way. But I didn’t feel the need, because I was so loved and happy in my family. My brother, who was also adopted, and I never felt different, even though our parents were of a different race. We had a strong sense of belonging.”
However, becoming a mother stirred unexpected emotions. “When I became a mother, everything came back to me intensely. I felt completely lost. I even got physically ill from the emotions. I later read that for adoptees, especially women, becoming a mother can trigger powerful feelings. Writing became my outlet. I wrote about my experience, my Indian roots, and my sense of belonging in France. It helped me reclaim the narrative of my life, even though there are still missing pieces. I also wanted to leave something for my daughters, so that, in the future, they could look back and understand more.”
‘I’ve always been a suburban girl, never quite the ‘Emily in Paris’ type’
Patricia expressed her excitement about rediscovering the city of her birth. “I don’t know much about Delhi, as I was raised in Europe, mostly in Paris. I’ve always been a suburban girl, not the ‘Emily in Paris’ type, if you know what I mean,” she joked. “Now, being here in Delhi, I’m enjoying the contrasts. The area around us, where we work with Alliance Française and the French embassy, is quite privileged- green, peaceful, and beautiful.”
She sees her role as an opportunity to build bridges between France and India. “The connections are already there, but I want to contribute in my own way. I was moved when I saw a video of the French President visiting Jaipur, and Indian students sharing how much they enjoyed their time in France. These students, who immerse themselves in the language and culture, will strengthen ties between the two nations in economics, politics, and culture as they grow into their roles. That’s what makes me happy.”