Naina de Bois-Juzen had planned an elegant post-Diwali weekend for her restaurant Le Bistro du Parc in Delhi. But the attack in Paris has left Naina and her plans devastated. Speaking to The Hindu , Ms Bois-Juzen said that Paris for her has been an eternal city and she loved visiting Paris while connecting with her roots. The multiple terror attacks on the French capital, she said, probably will leave the city permanently altered. “Paris never changed. Paris has a timeless character. But as you can understand, an attack of such a magnitude will definitely change the city. We are still under shock and trying to come to terms with the aftermath of this massive attack,” Ms Bois-Juzen told The Hindu .
Le Bistro du Parc had planned to welcome the weekend with a Jazz pianist playing during the evening. But the bloodshed in Paris has changed the mood of this French restaurant in Delhi, said Ms Bois-Juzen.
The attack in Paris is also an attack on the heart of the Francophone world which is spread across Europe, Africa, the Caribbeans and Southeast Asia. A French-speaking Arab diplomat told The Hindu that the French language is a great binding force among people of diverse cultures of Asia, Africa and France, and Paris symbolises harmony of the Francophone culture. The attack has also drawn a quick response from the office of the EU ambassador in Delhi.
Responding to The Hindu , Tomasz Kozlowski, ambassador, Delegation of EU to India, said, “We are deeply shocked to hear about the heinous terrorist attack. European values of openness and democracy will prevail; even as the planners and perpetrators of this outrage are brought to justice. We stand in full solidarity with the people of France.” As Delhi prepares to hold silent vigil at the India Gate, the French citizens living in Delhi are in a state of shock and are saying that life in Paris will never be the same again. Earlier speaking to The Hindu , ambassador of France, Francois Richier described the attacks as a “major crisis” before France and promised that more updates will be available soon.
