AFD Board - Alliance Française de Delhi

The AFD Board of Directors comprises a diverse group of passionate individuals dedicated to advancing French language and culture within their community. Comprised of experienced professionals, educators, and cultural enthusiasts, the board oversees strategic planning, program development, and organizational governance. Drawing on their collective expertise and networks, they work collaboratively to promote linguistic and cultural exchange, foster educational initiatives, and support local and international partnerships. With a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and inclusivity, the Board members of AFD play a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s direction and impact, ensuring its continued success in promoting French language and cultural understanding.

Mr. J.L. Sarin did his BA (Hons.) in English, LLB and MA Political Science from Punjab University, Chandigarh. He has done a Diploma of the International Institute of Public Administration, Paris under a French government scholarship. Mr. J.L. Sarin joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1967, and worked in various capacities in Punjab and in the Central Government. The last posting in India was as Director of Ocean Development, Govt. of India (1981-85). He then joined the African Development Bank, Côte d’Ivoire in 1986 where he worked in various capacities, including Chief of Recruitment, Deputy Director Language Services, and Director Human Resource Management till Oct. 1997.

Aude Priya Wacziarg is a French citizen born in India, holding an Overseas Citizen of India card, and permanently settled in India. She has been a teacher of ancient languages at the University in France and, more recently, at the Ashoka University. She has also been an opera singer for over ten years, and now manages the Neemrana Music Foundation since 2013. This foundation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting music, both through productions and through education. In 2018, she set up the Neemrana Voice Academy, a structure especially curated for bringing young opera singers to an international level. Aude Priya is also actively involved as a director both in the Francis Wacziarg Group of export agencies and in the Neemrana Hotels.

Ms. Zohra Chatterji, an IAS officer from the 1979 batch (UP Cadre), held the position of Secretary, Government of India. A Physics graduate from Miranda House and post-graduate in English Literature, she began her career as a lecturer in English at IT College, Lucknow. Throughout her career, she held pivotal roles in Uttar Pradesh, including Labour Commissioner, Secretary & DG Tourism, and Principal Secretary IT & Industries, where she launched the award-winning e-suvidha and Lokvani projects. In 2007, Ms. Chatterji joined the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, as Joint Secretary. She also served as Member Secretary, National Commission for Women, and Additional Secretary Coal, holding additional charge as CMD of Coal India, the first woman in this role. She retired in 2014 from the Ministry of Textiles, with notable contributions to the handloom and handicrafts sector. Ms. Chatterji has represented India at international platforms, including the UN Women session and WIPO deliberations. She has also attended prestigious programs, including Harvard’s Kennedy School. Post-retirement, she chaired the UP Institute of Design and serves as an independent Director in companies like Travel Corporation of India. She completed her PhD on Awadh Culture and was the founding President of Alliance Française de Lucknow.

Mr. Surya Bhatia is a Chartered Accountant qualified in May’98. During his two year stint in a CA firm where he worked in the capacity as a partner, he developed a passion for personal finance and started developing experience and expertise in the same. He did certification in AMFI Mutual Fund Testing Program – 2001. Subsequently, when CFP (Certified Financial Planner) was launched in India, he did his CFP via the challenge status. In the year 2003, he started his own wealth boutique firm “Asset Managers” – a financial advisory concern advising on money management principles and over the last 9 years, he has been helping individuals and Small & Medium Enterprise (SME) to create, manage and grow their assets. He has also been doing TV shows more popularly “Let’s talk Money” on NDTV Profit and contributing towards financial literacy through print media by writing articles and columns and is currently writing a weekly column for HT-MINT.

Harpreet Singh obtained his B.Com degree from Bhagat Singh College, New Delhi. He studied French at Alliance Française de Delhi up to the 6th semester (Diplome level). He also runs a business of interior designing and execution of interiors projects. He undertakes turnkey projects from Government, Semi-Government and multinational companies, etc. all over India, mostly in Delhi & Mumbai. He is also a member of the poetry society and has composed around a hundred poems in English and some in French. His articles and poems have been published in many leading national newspapers and magazines like Indian Express, The Hindustan Times, etc. He has served as a member of Governing Body, AFD for around ten years, and first became its member at the age of 18.

An eminent commercial and travel photographer, Aditya Arya began professional photography in 1980 after graduating in History from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University. In addition to his wide-ranging Commercial and Travel portfolio, his work has been published widely in books and travel magazines around the world. He is known for his expertise in the field of advertising and corporate photography, specializing in Products, Interiors, and Food. Over the last few years, he has been completely immersed in the subject and practice of photographic conservation. He has honed his skills and knowledge on preservation, restoration, and archiving particularly through the documentation of historic photographic works from the famous Kulwant Roy Collection of the pre and post-independence era. He has played a pivotal role in the establishment of the India Photo Archive Foundation and the Neel Dongre Awards/Grants for Excellence in Photography. At present, while also actively pursuing his professional advertising and commercial assignments, he divides his time between his photography archive and Museo Camera – the only Photography and Camera Museum in India.

Amita Mishra is the Principal of Delhi Public School International, Saket, the only school offering IGCSE & A Levels Cambridge Assessment in Delhi.
Over her 30 years of experience, she has been Vice-Principal, DPS R.K.P, H.M. DPS East of Kailash, Ideator- CBSEi, Supervisor – ISC Board, Examiner for CBSE Board. As a core-resource person of the DPS Society, she has trained over 5000 teachers. She is a facilitator of various CIE projects in India.<br>DPS International was identified as one of the top 50 schools in India by Future 50. All India N°1 for Value for Money by Educational World with world-class university admissions. Daughter of a diplomat Mrs. Mishra is proficient in french which she has taught at DPS R.K. Puram, New Delhi

Prof. Iftikhar-Mulk Chishti teaches the Theory of Design at the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi from where he had graduated in 1975. His activities include a practice in architecture/interior design, exhibition/product design, and installation/scenography, and extend to theatre and film making, a subject which he studied in Paris during a four year period in the late seventies.

Mr. Sandeep Sapra is an Income Tax Consultant predominantly handling corporate appeals before the Supreme Court of India, various High Courts, and Income Tax Appellate Tribunals. Several judgments have been published in various Law Journals. Some of the major clients are: Hyundai Heavy Industries Ltd., Asahi Glass, ONGC, Essel/ZEE TV Group, Jamna Auto Industries Ltd., etc. He has been a member of the executive committee of the Income Tax Bar Association, Meerut and Income-tax Appellate Tribunal Bar Association, Delhi.

Vaishali Gupta is an Author and Educationist, as well as the founder of an award winning brand called One Teacher One Scientist. It is an initiative to empower teachers and parents to impart experiential learning and drive Innovation and 21st Century skills in children to build Global Citizenship. Under this banner, several programmes have been created for different learners. One recently designed programme called S.L.A.T.E. (Simple Learning Activities to Think and Empower) was especially curated to help disadvantaged community children take their basic step towards structured learning. This has helped her brand get recognised as one of the top 10 institutes providing services towards STEM education in India. Her professional experience in the field of education of more than two decades has seen her author more than fifty school textbooks and activity books, published by international publishers like Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Encyclopaedia Britannica India and Scholastic.

Dr. Manisha Sondhi is a life-long advocate of promoting the French language and culture in the country. A Ph.D. in French from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, she has been invited to France on several occasions at the invitation of the French government to strengthen cross-cultural and academic exchanges including the feasibility of integrating the DELF in the Indian education system. Dr. Sondhi has been actively involved with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in various capacities for teaching and evaluation of French at the secondary level.She was responsible for coordinating the DELF examination for French learners over three years and has undergone the BELC teachers training in France as well as in India.As Vice Principal at DPS Greater Noida and previously as Head of Department of Foreign Languages at DPS Vasant Kunj, she has organized cultural events, academic workshops, student and teacher trainings and career counselling sessions for senior students in liaison with French Universities.She has had a 35-year relationship with Alliance Française de Delhi, which started as a college student and graduated to herself teaching at Alliance Française in the initial years of her career.

Bhaichand Patel is a distinguished Indian author, journalist, and diplomat, known for his insightful contributions to literature and public service. With a rich career that spans decades, Patel has served in various high-profile roles within the United Nations and the Indian Foreign Service, offering his expertise in international diplomacy. His literary works, including biographies and personal reflections, are celebrated for their depth, wit, and ability to connect with readers on diverse topics. Patel’s contributions to Indian and global intellectual landscapes make him a respected figure in both diplomatic and literary circles.

Patricia Loison’s professional journey is a testament to her dedication, versatility, and influence in the world of journalism, writing, and cultural diplomacy. A seasoned journalist with over two decades of experience, Patricia has covered some of the most significant international events, including European summits, American elections, and other major geopolitical developments. Her early career took shape at LCI, one of France’s leading news channels, where she honed her skills as a reporter and anchor, gaining recognition for her sharp insights and storytelling abilities.
As her career progressed, Patricia joined France Télévisions, where her reputation as a distinguished journalist was further solidified. Her work on television earned her a dedicated following, and she became known not only for her coverage of global events but also for her ability to bring complex stories to life. Additionally, Patricia hosted a travel show that took her to various corners of the world, fostering intercultural dialogue and highlighting diverse cultures, which deepened her understanding of the global stage.
In 2022, Patricia transitioned into authorship, publishing her debut book through Fayard, inspired by her own adoption story. The book garnered critical acclaim and further established her voice beyond journalism, offering a personal narrative that resonated with many.
Her professional awards include prestigious honors such as “Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres” and “Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite,” acknowledging her remarkable contributions to French culture, media, and society.

Frédéric comes from the North of France (Amiens) and grew up in the region of Fontainebleau in Ile de France (Fontainebleau, 70km far from Paris is usually known as it was at royal residence and is famous for huge natural royal forest).After completing his studies in FLE, Frederic taught for nearly 20 years in different organizations (private schools, associations, companies / corporates) and also supervised teams as an educational coordinator in France and abroad for more than 10 years.He developed curriculum in FOS (French on specific purposes) for professionals, e.g OECD, L’Oréal and international law firms and worked as a trainer of trainers for the two references in FLE: FEI (ex. CIEP) and the CCIP. After completing his double Master’s degree (M2) in Educational Sciences, his 1st mission to India was in 2008 in New Delhi, where he developed a training system for the initial training of teachers of Alliance Française Network in India. As his last position, he worked as the Academic Director at the French Institute of Cambodia.

Ragini Mehta did her MA in French literature and got a scholarship to go to France for a specialized course called ” Professorat”. After returning to India She joined AFD in 1989 and ever since working for the institution where she attended many “stages” and training and even went to France from time to time through AFD to learn new and interesting ways of teaching the French language taking the help of new technologies. The books ” Le Nouvel Horizon (1, 2, and 3 volumes) have been co-written by her and published by Goyal Publications and are being used in many schools in India and the Middle East. She has also written a book by the name of “Collaboration” for management students.