In a significant recognition of cultural bridge-building, the Ambassador of France to India, His Excellency Mr. Thierry Mathou, bestowed one of France's highest cultural honours upon a stalwart of Indian publishing. Ravi Deecee, the Publisher and Managing Director of DC Books, was conferred the insignia of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) at a ceremony in New Delhi.
A Ceremony Celebrating Literary Bridges
The investiture event was held at the Embassy of France on December 4, drawing a distinguished gathering of personalities from India's literary and cultural spheres. The occasion served to celebrate Mr. Deecee's profound and decades-long influence on the publishing landscape, particularly his role in fostering Indo-French literary connections.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Thierry Mathou highlighted Deecee's pivotal work. He noted that Ravi Deecee has spearheaded the transformation of DC Books into one of India's leading publishing houses, with a special focus on building a remarkable catalogue of renowned French works translated into Malayalam. The Ambassador emphasized that in his various capacities, Deecee has consistently harnessed the power of ink and paper to enable a vital exchange of knowledge across cultures, languages, and national borders.
Honouring a Legacy of Translation and Exchange
France's decision to confer this prestigious award squarely recognizes Ravi Deecee's unwavering commitment to multilingualism, literary innovation, and global cultural collaboration. A central pillar of this mission has been DC Books' dedicated publication of Malayalam translations of leading French literary works.
The publishing house's catalogue includes translated titles by a veritable who's who of French literature, such as Nobel laureate Annie Ernaux, existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre, and acclaimed authors like Céline, Johanna Gustawsson, Emmanuel Carrère, David Diop, and Maryse Condé. This effort has made seminal French thought and narrative accessible to the Malayalam-reading public.
Upon accepting the honour, Ravi Deecee shared a reflective note. "As I receive this honour, I am reminded that the most meaningful legacy is not what we leave behind, but what we leave within others," he said. He traced his family's three-generation journey in Malayalam publishing to this very belief, stating that books are powerful tools that shape values, expand imagination, and nurture empathy across cultures. In his view, literature remains one of the most enduring gifts we can offer to society.
Sustained Collaboration Beyond Publishing
The partnership between DC Books and French cultural institutions extends far beyond the printed page. The company has played a pivotal role in facilitating direct cultural exchange through its Vagamon Writer Residency in Kerala.
Significantly, this residency program has been an integral part of the French Embassy's Villa Swagatam initiative since its very inception. This sustained collaboration underscores a shared commitment between DC Books and the French Embassy to supporting creative exchange, translation, and cultural diplomacy on a practical, ongoing basis.
The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) was instituted in 1957 and holds a unique place at the core of French cultural policy. It is designed to recognize individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the promotion and enrichment of arts and culture, both in France and globally. For over sixty-five years, the order has honoured creators, thinkers, visionaries, and cultural ambassadors. Its first cohort included legendary figures like architect Le Corbusier and writer Marcel Pagnol, setting a high benchmark for the honour that Ravi Deecee now joins.
