A statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh will be installed in the French town of Saint-Tropez which is the birthplace of his Army General Jean-Francois Allard.
Henri Prevosat-Allard, Deputy Mayor and in-charge of tourism of Saint-Tropez met Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal in Chandigarh. The chief minister has said that Punjab would supply the statue of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh to be installed in France.
Henri Prevosat-Allard is a descendant of General Jean-Fran Allard who trained Maharaja Ranjit Singh's troops and has announced the step as a mark of respect towards the 19th century Sikh king.
He informed the Chief Minister that Gen. Allard (French) along with Gen. Ventura (Italian) served in the army of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and both made an enormous contribution for the modernization of his military through their strategic experience and raised Fauj-i-khas, the “special” or “royal” brigade.
Punjab has announced to hand over the statue to the French ambassador to India in June, and the same will be installed at Saint-Tropez on 17 September.
The installation of the statue is a matter of great pride for Punjab, the chief minister said, adding that it will herald a new epoch of India-France relations and will boost tourism.
Allard will also invite Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to Saint-Tropez on September 17 when the statues of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, General Allard and his wife Bannou Pan Dei will be installed.
In September, the Indian embassy in France will hold also an exhibition on the life of the king.
