PANAJI
Wagle has been conferred with the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) by the French government. Earlier, Wagle was conferred with the Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques (Knight of the order of Academic Palms) by the French Government in July 2009, which is a civilian honour of a similar rank.
Speaking to The Goan, Dr Anuradha Wagle said she was elated to have been conferred the order and that the feeling was still sinking in.
“I received a letter from the Ambassador of France in India towards the end of August. It came as a surprise to me. The actual date when the award will be conferred is still not known,” Wagle said.
She will be conferred with a medal in a formal ceremony to be held in France at a later date.
The Chevalier de l’Ordre des Artes et Lettres is conferred on her for her “professionalism and contribution to the reinforcement and strengthening of Indo French ties.” This year, besides Wagle the other Indian to receive it is Tamil actor Kamal Hassan.
Besides being a professor in French, Wagle has authored acclaimed books in French about India besides grammar books along with other French teachers.
Importantly, Wagle has been the Vice President of the Paris-based Fédération Internationale des Professeurs de Français (International Federation of Teachers of French) for two terms between 2008-2012 and 2012-2016.
She has also been the president of the Asia Pacific Commission of the Federation (2008-2012) and president of the Indian Association of Teachers of French (2006-2013).
Wagle has been at the Goa University since the year 2000, when she signed up as a lecturer and was promoted to associate professor in 2006 before being made the head of the department. Wagle has completed her PhD in interpretation and translation from the Jawaharlal Nehru University. Wagle is perhaps the first Indian to be conferred with the order on two occasions.
Prior to Wagle, the only other Goan known to have been conferred the order is Wendell Rodricks who was conferred with the order Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres in 2015.
