This is what Narendra Modi will do in France beginning today

What happens when two heads of two nations meet? Discuss defence, talk about economy or maybe something on civil nuclear. But this is not what PM Narendra Modi plans to discuss with his French counterpart. In fact, PM Modi plans to have a discussion around culture, heritage and history reveals an Economic Times report. The financial daily mentions that Modi’s agenda of discussion in Paris includes an agreement to pair national monuments and heritage sites - possibly starting with New Delhi's imposing India Gate and the Arc de Triomphe in the heart of the French capital.

The agreement that India and France are expected to sign to 'twin' iconic structures and monuments, based on similarities they share, may include as many as six pairings and are aimed at strengthening the cultural links between the two countries, officials from the Ministry of Culture and the Archaeological Survey of India told the ET.

The modalities of arrangement will be worked out later by the governments and associated bodies such as ASI and its counterpart in France. The ideas being discussed include putting up plaques at the monuments to generate awareness about their foreign twins and to have imprints of both structures on tickets and publicity brochures. India Gate and the Arc de Triomphe have many similarities that make them ideal as paired monuments.

The similarity between the two monuments includes triumphal arches built to commemorate unknown soldiers who laid down their lives for the country, are located in the capital and revered as patriotic sites. The financial daily also said, the 42 metre high India Gate commemorates the 70,000 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during World War I, while the Arc de Triomphe, at 49.5 metres, stands at the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle in honour of those who fought for France, especially during the Napoleonic Wars. The names of soldiers are engraved on both structures.

If all goes well, Jaisalmer Fort in Rajasthan may also be linked to Carcassonne in France.

The Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa is proposed to be twinned with the Chartres Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Chartres. Both are Catholic churches and key pilgrim centres. Other sites that could be linked are the prehistoric rock shelters of Bhimbetka in MP with the Lascaux Caves in southwestern France, famous for Palaeolithic cave paintings.

New Delhi's Lodi Gardens could be linked with the Jardin des Tuileries - both much-frequented and loved public parks in the capital cities. There is also a plan to link Mysore Palace with a Chateau in France. India and France are also expected to collaborate on preventive and underwater archaeology, training of personnel and joint research.

(Image: Reuters)