Cultural Ambassador

🪔 About

Dr. Malini Ranganathan is a distinguished Indian classical dancer, choreographer, and educational scientist, renowned for her contributions to Kathak and her role as a cultural ambassador for India in France. A French national of Indian origin, she settled in France in 1983 and has since dedicated over 35 years to promoting Indian art and culture across Europe. She received her initial training in Kathak from legendary gurus Damayanti Joshi (Lucknow Gharana) and Roshan Kumari (Jaipur Gharana), and also studied Odissi under Guru Mahadev Raut. Beyond her artistic pursuits, Dr. Ranganathan holds an M.Phil and a Ph.D. in Educational Science from the European University, specializing in cross-cultural didactics, and serves as a Researcher-Professor in Humanities and Educational Science for MBA students in Nantes. In 1996, she founded 'Bindi,' a Centre for Indian Arts in Nantes, an NGO dedicated to the pedagogical transmission of classical Kathak and Bollywood dance. She has performed extensively in India, the USA, Canada, and Europe, and has been instrumental in curating major cultural festivals, including the 'Summer Festival of Nantes' and 'Namaste France' in 2016. Her exceptional commitment to arts and academics was recognized with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award by the President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, on January 23, 2019, in Varanasi, making her the first woman from France to receive this highest honor for overseas Indians. She was also conferred the Medal of Excellence by the City of Nantes in 2019 and the prestigious Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture in 2024. Dr. Ranganathan is known for her innovative teaching protocols for Kathak, recognized by French universities, which blend traditional content with methods tailored for non-Indian students. Awards & Honours: Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (2019), Medal of Excellence (2019), Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2024).