2023. Nicole Zand (1933-2024), famous French journalist of Le Monde, mother of French actor Mathieu Amalric. At my SNBA Salon exhibition to celebrate the 160th anniversary of Société Nationale des Beaux Arts at Réfectoire des Cordeliers in Paris. Nicole had been a very good friend and art lover since a long time. She spent some time at my Love and Courage maison atelier in Bangalore. In spite of her frail health condition she came to my exhibition just a year before her death.
When India was partitioned 1947 to create Pakistan, a new country for Muslims, about 20 million people of Bengal and Punjab were displaced and brutally victimized. Sen’s wealthy, literate family had huge landed property in erstwhile East Bengal, the present Bangladesh, which was carved out to be East Pakistan for Muslims. So for being Hindus Sen’s family was overnight evicted from their home. Without taking any possessions, they fled for their lives amidst people warring over religion, and so became squatted refugees in West Bengal.
