Government of France Felicitates Dr Anju Chazot and Dr Pascal Chazot with Highest Civilian Honour

Ahmedabad: In a moment of pride for Ahmedabad and the Mahatma Gandhi International School (MGIS), Dr Anju Chazot, the director of MGIS and Dr Pascal Chazot, the founding trustee of MGIS and a French Civil Servant, were conferred upon with the highest civilian honour by the Government of France. The Honourable Consul General of France in Mumbai, Mr Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet presented the two distinctions during an official ceremony organised at the Hutheesing Visual Arts Centre in Ahmedabad.

Dr Anju Chazot was honoured with Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Knight in the Order of the Academic Palms), which is the highest civilian honour bestowed by the French Education Ministry, Government of France. This order of knighthood was founded by Napoléon in 1806 to honour citizens for their distinguished services in the field of academics, culture, and education.

On the same occasion, Mr. Pascal Chazot was awarded the Médaille d’honneur des Affaires étrangères (called President’s medal) for bravery, bestowed by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, France.

Mr Jean-Marc Séré-Charlet, the Honourable Consul General of France in Mumbai, said, “The linkages between India and France are exceptional. The recent visit of the Honourable French President to India on Republic Day and the visit of the Indian Prime Minister to France last year bears testimony to these linkages. The bilateral relationship between India and France were in sectors of Defence, Weapons and Nuclear Energy. However, to be able to foster people to people linkages, collaborations between the two countries is crucial in the field of education. Anju and Pascal have played a huge role here through their unique school where children learn French language and also provide state of the art education. They’re both French citizens in India promoting this cause.”

Dr Anju Chazot is nominated by the Prime Minister of France as the French Trade Advisor to the French Government. In this capacity, she acts to promote Indo-French relations in business, trade, industry, education, and training. A doctorate in education from King’s College, London, UK, she specialises in teachers training. She also holds two degrees – one in linguistics from the University of Strasbourg France and a Master’s Degree in Sciences of Education from the University of Paris in France.

She is awarded the Ordre des Palmes Academiques, a medal bestowed by the Republic of France, (Ministry of Education) for distinguished academics. Dr Anju is also the recipient of SheRise award by FICCI and Civil Society Award from the Election Commission of India (2016)

Commenting on the honour, Dr Anju Chazot said, “Throughout my journey in the academics and education sector, the government of France has been extremely supportive and encouraging towards our new-age approach to learning and education. It has constantly encouraged my endeavour to promote Indian and French student exchanges, skill development programmes and facilitating French businesses to invest in Gujarat and India. This award is a big honour and bears testament to our efforts but more so a responsibility to take forward in finding new paradigms in the education sector and identify synergies between India and France in this sector. I look forward to the journey ahead.”

Collaboration and exchange between India and France on academic, cultural and business fronts are in alignment with the bi-lateral agreements between India and France signed by both the President of France and the Honourable Prime Minister of India.

Dr Pascal Chazot has over 30 years of experience in education and international cooperation. He is a French Civil Servant and a Category A officer with the French Ministry of National Education, France. A PhD in Psychology of Education from the University of Paris, Dr Pascal’s thesis was awarded the medal for Best Doctoral Research from the Université Paris Nord. He has been an elected Member of Parliament for the French Overseas and was a member of the National Commission for Training and Employment in France and thereafter has been the Elected Consular Councillor for the French living in South Asia.

Dr Chazot has been awarded the President’s Medal of honour, Government of France for his service for the rescue efforts during the attack in Mumbai. He is also the recipient of the Civil Society Award by the Election Commission of India by former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

“I am extremely grateful to the Government of France for conferring this honour upon me. Finding new frontiers in education with evolving times is a mission that I have dedicated myself to over the past decade or more. In all our endeavours, the French Government has remained extremely supportive and in fact, has helped us build a thriving culture of Indo-French cultural exchange in Ahmedabad. I sincerely hope to take this legacy forward in the coming years,” said Dr Pascal Chazot, speaking at the occasion.