Did You Know Indira Gandhi Spoke Flawless French?

Brut India

Little-seen video from 1969 shows former prime minister Indira Gandhi speaking fluent French.

Transcript

00:00What is the national problem that worries you the most?

00:04The one you would like to be able to talk about later, I have resolved.

00:11The most urgent problem for us is to bring to all sections of our people

00:18social justice and economic well-being.

00:24Obviously, it is not possible to solve this kind of problem completely or even immediately.

00:33But we have already made progress and each step forward encourages us to continue our efforts.

00:41Does the fact that you are a woman influence your choice?

00:49No, because these problems are for all the people.

00:56Madame, since your childhood, I believe you have lived in the middle of politics.

01:02You have been immersed in politics, especially alongside your father, the Pandit Nehru.

01:06So I would like to know if sometimes you regret having accepted the position of Prime Minister.

01:16First of all, it was not only my father who was involved in politics.

01:20It was my mother, my grandfather, my grandmother, all the aunts, uncles, cousins, the whole family.

01:32My task is enormous, but at the same time exciting.

01:37I don't even have the time to think about letting it go.

01:45But don't you sometimes have moments of discouragement?

01:50No, because I am full of hope and I have confidence in the Indian people and in the future of my country.

01:58But don't you sometimes think that it is too big a task, almost impossible for you?

02:06Nothing is impossible.

02:07If I can paraphrase, perhaps it is Racine, I am not sure.

02:13I hope she said,

02:15To whom his father serves, there is nothing impossible.

02:18So I want to say,

02:20To whom his people serve, there is nothing impossible.

02:24What price and importance do you attach to the relationship between India and France?

02:32I love and admire France and its culture.

02:36Our two countries have good relations and we think that this is very important for us.

02:42Have you ever been to France?

02:44Yes, many times.

02:46Did you know that at the end of 1968, the readers of a major French newspaper

02:53designated you as the woman that the French admire the most?

02:59Yes, I heard that.

03:01Did you know that?

03:02Yes.

03:03Do you care a lot about your popularity, nationally and internationally?

03:10Naturally, I like it.

03:12But in public life, shouldn't we attach too much importance to favorable comments or not?

03:20We would all like to know, I think, how and in what circumstances did you learn our language?

03:28I was in Switzerland, but I didn't have any French lessons.

03:33Never as a teacher?

03:34Can you say, catch up? In English, we say, pick up.

03:38You caught up with the language.

03:39Yes, I caught up with the language.

03:40But I really like to learn languages like that.

03:43Do you sometimes read books?

03:45I used to read before, but now, unfortunately, I have very little time.

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