French Institute in India

Why carry tonnes of oxygen to space when the atmosphere is already full of it?

That question has driven one of aerospace’s boldest pursuits - air-breathing propulsion for space launchers. At our latest ScientIFIc Thursdays, we welcomed hypersonic propulsion expert François Falempin to unpack it all.

Drawing on decades of research at ONERA and MBDA France, Falempin traced the rise, fall, and renewed promise of hypersonic air-breathing propulsion and why today’s technology makes it worth a fresh look. 🔬

He also spoke about his collaboration with Sathyabama University, highlighting the joint research efforts and academic exchange shaping hypersonic studies. 🤝🏻

With over four decades shaping hypersonic research from ONERA to Executive Technical Advisor for Hypersonic Programs at MBDA - Falempin remains an active voice in French aerospace through 3AF. 🎓

Thank you to everyone who joined us for an evening full of insight, curiosity, and great conversation! 🙌🏻
Stay tuned for our next - follow along so you don’t miss it! ✨

À l’occasion de sa venue à Delhi ne manquez pas cette rencontre exceptionnelle avec Céline Malraux - petite fille d’André Malraux et Patricia Loison, Directrice de l’AF Delhi autour de “L’aventure humaine selon André Malraux”

À travers l’œuvre et la pensée d’André Malraux, elles interrogeront notre rapport à la fraternité et à la liberté aujourd’hui.

« Les hommes unis à la fois par l'espoir et par l'action accèdent, comme les hommes unis par l'amour, à des domaines auxquels ils n'accéderaient pas seuls. »
Une discussion riche et inspirante entre littérature, histoire et réflexion contemporaine.

📍Lieu : Médiathèque, Alliance Française de Delhi
🗓️Date et horaires : 22 juin 2026 à 17h00
Événement en français.

Entrée gratuite sur inscription sur le lien - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfDuy-ZoP6yK7B2MokYPlJIDYbucc2NKsovZaWtT3tUP8iBuA/viewform

What if a song could hold everything you've never said out loud?

Kelly ou Moi is the stage name of French singer-songwriter Kelly Grondin - blending indie pop, folk, and electro with stories drawn from Corsica, Réunion, and the South-West of France. Volcanic roots. Intimate songwriting. A sound that carries both without ever choosing between them.

Since The Voice France 2018, she has built her career entirely on her own terms - fully self-produced and independent through LKL Musique, a non-profit she co-founded.

Kelly’s bond with India goes far deeper than any tour itinerary. Based in Goa, she has sung Konkani, taught French through music, and returned to Indian stages more times than most artists ever do.

For Kelly ou moi, India was never just a destination. It was a conversation she kept coming back to.

This June, as part of Fête de la Musique - Month of Music.

The stage is set. Find your way there - https://www.institutfrancaisindia.in/event/kelly-ou-moi/

📍 Ahmedabad | 19 June
📍 Puducherry | 26 June

From Chennai and Kottayam to Paris - two Indian publishers bring their voices to the world stage.

Kannan Sundaram and Govind Deecee spent two inspiring days at the Paris Book Market 2026, connecting with publishing professionals from France and around the world to explore new partnerships, rights opportunities, and future translations.

Organised by France Livre, the Paris Book Market is a premier international publishing market bringing together foreign acquisition rights professionals - offering a unique platform to discover the richness of French-language publishing across literature, humanities, children's books, comics, art books, and more.

Because every book that travels begins with a conversation.

A heartfelt thank you to France Livre for bringing together such a vibrant international publishing community. 📚

Mediterranean rhythms. Electronic pulse. 🔥

As part of Fête de la Musique 2026 and the Month of Music, Alright Mela arrives in India with a live experience built on movement, collective energy, and powerful musical encounters.

Blending Gnawa traditions, oud, electronic music, and hypnotic grooves, the Franco-Moroccan trio creates performances where rhythm becomes a shared language and the dancefloor becomes a space for connection.

Discover Alright Mela across five cities this June.

📍 Chandigarh | 18 June
📍 Bhopal | 19 June
📍 Hyderabad | 21 June
📍 Pune | 23 June
📍 Mumbai | 24 June

Register Now - https://www.institutfrancaisindia.in/event/alright-mela/

🚀 Why carry hundreds of tonnes of oxygen to space when the atmosphere is full of it?

That question inspired one of aerospace's boldest dreams, and it's the subject of our next ScientIFIc Thursdays lecture.

We are pleased to invite you to a conference by François Falempin, French aerospace engineer and internationally recognized expert in hyper-sonic propulsion and high-speed air-breathing systems.

🎙️ "Dreaming Too Much Killed the Opportunity: Why Air-Breathing Propulsion for Space Launchers Should Be Reassessed"

📅 Thursday, 18 June 2026 🕕 6:00 PM

📍 Auditorium, Embassy of France in India, 2/50-E Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

Since the 1980s, air-breathing propulsion has inspired the vision of lighter, reusable space launchers operating almost like aircraft. Drawing on decades of research at ONERA, MBDA France, and major European aerospace partners, François Falempin will revisit the rise and decline of hyper-sonic air-breathing propulsion for space access, and explain why today's technological maturity justifies taking a fresh look at these concepts for future launchers.

About the speaker: A graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Métiers and the École Supérieure des Techniques Aérospatiales, François Falempin began his career at ONERA in 1983 before joining MBDA, where he served as Executive Technical Advisor for Hypersonic Programs until 2024. He remains actively involved in the French aerospace community through 3AF.

🎟️ Entry is free, but registration is mandatory: https://qrco.pulse.ly/qnasmivdrc (or scan the QR code on the invitation)

We would be delighted to welcome you for this lecture and the discussion to follow.



French Embassy in India / Ambassade de France en Inde | Indo French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research

Join us on 11 June at Alliance Francaise de Delhi where we will be celebrating one of the most outspoken and celebrated q***r writers in France today - Constance Debré, reading her book 'Love Me Tender'. Constance describes how her coming-out caused her ex-husband and an indifferent state apparatus to collude in keeping her son away from her for years, the pain of which was in sharp contrast to the freedom she finally felt in living a life built on her own truth.

The PMF! Bookclub gathers once a month to discuss contemporary French literature, reading English translations, with discussions in English as well.

Register Now - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeW7vEnVfaoy75-Zo04Gi847QOq4wy6-YFxnIHGb7wJX8CY-Q/viewform?usp=dialog

***rbookclub ***rpride