Francois Gautier - Interview

1.     We would love to know a bit about you. Could you please share a brief overview of your background?

I was born in Paris and had strict catholic upbringing, but always felt that something was missing from my life. When I just turned 19, I heard that a caravan of cars was driving from Paris to Pondichery, to start an international city based on Sri Aurobindo’s ideals and philosophy. I immediately embarked upon this adventure, and when we reached Delhi, after 4 weeks travel through many countries, I had a strong experience that I had come ‘home’. In Pondichery, I met the Mother, a French lady who was Sri Aurobindo’s spiritual companion and had again a very powerful experience. I stayed for 7 years in the Sri Aurobindo ashram, Pondichery, among Indians with whom I felt at ease and connected. And when the Mother passed away, I started doing some freelance journalism, as I had done writing and photography in Paris before leaving.

2. What inspired your interest in Hindutva/Hinduism, and how has your understanding evolved over time? 

   - The future of Hindutva in Indian politics and the social landscape 

   - Global perception of Hinduism 

When I started the freelancing journalism in India, my first feature was on Kalaripayat, the ancient martial art which travelled  to China and became Shaolin boxing or Kung Fu, and then to Japan in Okinawa, where it blended with different technics and became Karate. There I met Hindu Kalari masters and their students, beautiful people, who did sewa, working or studying in the day time, and teaching and practicing in the evenings. They accepted me, a white man, with my ignorance, my camera, my questions and I discovered here and there that Hinduism and Hindus are a wonderful people, worthy to be defended.

3. Please tell us about your spiritual journey. 

   - What inspired you to embark on your spiritual journey? 

   - Your spiritual practices 

Of course I am a disciple of Sri Aurobindo. His writings inspired me profoundly and guided me in my journalistic outlook; but I met over the years wonderful gurus, people, simple folks who guided me in my spiritual journey. I am thinking of course about the Dalai Lama, whom I interviewed many times and who married me and my wife. He is going to turn 90 in July, and I always felt that not only he is an avatar, but also that the future and the freedom of Tibet is intimately linked to India (I wish some of its leaders would recognize that and support more openly His Holiness the Dalai Lama). I am also thinking of course about Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, whose pranayama techniques have changed both our lives, & which myself and my wife have thought to thousands of students. Sri Sri is a living guru to me.

4. Please tell us about FACT and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Museum. 

   - How it started 

   - Response from the Hindu community 

   - Future plans and upcoming projects 

I was a witness of the ethnic cleansing of 400.000 Hindus in the Valley of Kashmir, and it deeply touched me. Therefore, I started an exhibition on the Kashmiri pandits, which was inaugurated in Delhi, Habitat centre, in 2004, by LK Advani and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Then I got interested in Indian History and started studying it seriously. I discovered that Aurangzeb was pivotal in Indian History, and mounted an exhibition based on his firmans (edicts) which was again opened in Delhi Habitat centre by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Mr Advani. Then followed many more exhibitions, and finally Sri Sri gave me a piece of land, near the Pune airport, where I built a museum of True Indian History, DEDICATED TO THE GREAT CHHATRAPATI SHIVAJI MAHARAJ, which today has 22 pavilions, a unique Bharat Mata temple, a video room, a library, etc. This is a sewa museum, where entry is free, and I have to raise myself all the funds for the salaries of the museum (7 members staff), the painting exhibitions, the new pavilions, etc. Last year we had 15 000 visitors, many of them schoolchildren, and there is no publicity, just word of mouth. Individual Hindus mostly give - I have found it very difficult to raise money with corporates, as they are used to give to education and healthcare, and Indian History is a very touchy subject of which they are scared. The BJP never gave any funds.

6. What is your message to Hindu youth?

First you have to know your own history, the good and the bad and be proud of it, as it is very ancient and glorious. Secondly you should stay and work in India, and not try to emigrate abroad, even if there are better wages and opportunities there. Thirdly you must be proud to be an Indian, and be ready to fight for your country if necessary. And finally, stand for the greatness of India and its spirituality and know that Hinduism is the last bastion of the Knowledge : “who I am, what happens when I die, what is an avatar, what is karma, dharma, etc.

Francois gautier

6. 05. 2025

Please mention WITHOUT FAIL

Factmuseum. Com @ francoisgautier.com

Also that whoever wants to donate to Museum should send me a mail at francoisgautier26@gmail.com (we have US & Indian tax exemption