Catherine Oden, Director, Atout France, involved in international projects, media relations and strategic planning, lives in the shadow of a Ganesha painting that, in reality, is not hers. “Besides the fact that the owners were extremely friendly, the Ganesha painting made me decide upon this apartment,” she says, of her home in Mumbai, having moved here from Paris, nine months ago. “I have taken great pleasure in preparing my home with very vivid colours, mainly orange and fuchsia. Colours make me happy and keep me in a very positive mood.”

Oden lives surrounded by artifacts collected from the countries she has visited and worked in, a collection of Ganeshas, an invasion of colourful candles, fresh flowers that she loves and two “magnificent ceramic platters with one of my favourite motifs, the lotus flower,” that she uses on a regular basis. (“I am not the kind of person who keeps things for special occasions! We must enjoy life with people and objects that surround us.”) Incense and aromas flood every room.

A veteran of thecity, almost, Oden has disco-vered that “India is quite overwhelming, with experiences of all flavours – spicy, sweet and sometimes sour. But I would like to keep the sweet ones forever in my memory. Some experiences have been very hectic and challenging. And yet everything seems to fall into place even if it is at the very last minute. So, one must have a very strong heart,” says the happy expat.
Here, some of Oden’s favourite things – and experiences....

Memories are made of these....
“My most memorable experience in India took place in Jaipur. Visiting the Pink City, I was very comfortably relaxed in my room at the Taj’s Rambagh Palace reading A Princess Remembers when my friend called me down for a drink with the director of the hotel. I joined them at the Polo Bar. In the middle of the conversation, suddenly they both stood up and I looked to where they were facing. There she was, flawlessly beautiful even in her 80s – Maharani Gayatri Devi. She had an enchanting smile and was at her gracious best. I was delighted to have met her and it was a beautiful coincidence that I had been reading her book just an hour earlier.”

Tropical night out
“A fun night out means a good crowd and good friends. It would ideally begin with a glass of champagne, watching the sunset. Then, a nice dinner at a Mediterranean restaurant, (around my house I enjoy the terraces of Indigo and Moshe’s) and then perhaps unwind a bit at a club. Sometimes, I like to let my hair down, have a blast and dance too. I am totally in awe of Indian weddings – the endless festivities, the energy of people from seven to 77; I have had some fantastic times joining in the fun.

Local couture
“In Mumbai, I must adjust to very different weather from what I have been accustomed to. As a representative of France, I tend to wear French brands, something fashionable and with an Indian touch maybe – a mélange of the two cultures. On weekends, I enjoy wearing Indian clothes which are very comfortable and you will see me wearing a nice kurta. I am very fond of bangles and small bags for the evening. Saris make women look so elegant! I have tried to put on saris – I just could not recognise myself! I really loved it. ”

Gifts galore
“To me a gift corresponds to a person and has meaning because of the person. One gift I received from someone very dear who helped me a great deal during my first tenure in India, is a magnificent book on the city of Mumbai. While based in Japan, I would look at it and tell myself I would like to live there someday! So I took that book as an invitation to come back to India.

My deputy director, Sheetal, invited me to a Ganesha pooja at her home and offered me a beautiful Ganesha. The ambience of the pooja, the meaning of the Ganesha statue, all of it made me feel at home.”

Catherine’s choices

Watering holes: To dine
Villa 39 To celebrate Tote on the Turf Outdoor dining Olive Bandra or Mahalaxmi Relaxed drink Willingdon Sorts Club, Cricket Club of Club CCI), Yacht Club, The Dome, Wink, the Taj Mahal poolside.

Wellness: “I love spas and would want to explore these further. I go to Rudra Spa on a regular basis since it is just a stone’s throw from my home. I enjoy the Taj Wellington Mews Jiva Spa where the treatment is very professional.”

Local wines: “I am still learning and discovering the world of Indian wines and have a few favourites – the Grover La Reserve Cabernet-Shiraz is a good red wine, amongst the whites I enjoy Sula Sauvignon Blanc. I also recently savoured the red Zampa Syrah-Cabernet.

Indian food: Tandooris, biryanis, dal, naan.... “I love entertaining and my new challenge is to learn how to cook pure vegetarian food, as quite a few of my friends are vegetarian.”

Most missed when travelling home: “My wonderful team at the office, masala chai and my comfortable home and friends.

Gifts taken home: Bags, scarves, pottery, porcelains.

Bollywood: Devdas, Taare Zameen Par. “I am very fond of Amitabh Bachchan who has great charm and elegance in the way he speaks. As we say in France, he is ‘un grand monsieur’.

Books: Being Indian by Pavan K Varma, Maximum City by Suketu Mehta, Discovery of India by Jawaharlal Nehru, A Princess Remembers by Gayatri Devi, Branding India – An Incredible Journey by Amitabh Kant, Tagore’s poetry. “I am a proud owner of a large collection of books on India itself – cuisine, home interiors, tourism, Indians.”

Shopper’s paradise

Artifacts Chor Bazaar, Crawford Market Antiques Phillips Antiques Fabrics Chunilal Mulchand Fashion Satya Paul, Sabyasachi, Manish Arora, Tarun Tahiliani Shoes Joy Shoes Accessories Curio Cottage, Delhi shops Home Good Earth for elephant-themed bedroom accessories, Address for great cushions and a magnificent vase, the original Bungalow 8 Gallery Gallery BMB for a combination of great diversity and modernity.

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