Rajkot, November 21: SHE has translated work of renowned Gujarati poet Narsinh Mehta into French and is a leading Ginan literature scholar in the world. Her love for Gujarati culture is obvious from her look. Draped in a golden-coloured sari with a big red bindi and bangles, she could be easily mistaken for a Gujarati woman at the International Conference. Only her accent gives her away.

Dr Francoise Mallison, a retired professor of Sorbonne University, France, is a teacher whose contribution to Gujarati literature is a landmark in itself.

During the past 20 years of her association with Saurashtra University, she has translated Prabhati by Narsinh Mehta and Satyagita by Swami Muktanand into French. She is the first one in India to do any research on Ginan literature. She has also written many research papers on medieval Gujarati and Ginan literature. Her next research will be on Kutch Samprada. That’s why Saurashtra has become a second home to this specialist of medieval Bhakti culture. She’s now in Rajkot to attend the International Conference of Ginan Literature.

Dr Mallison, the only foreign student at SU, has impressed Gujarati scholars and researchers with her extraordinary work.

‘‘It is due to her efforts that Narsinh Mehta’s work got recognition in France. Besides, she is the first one to do research on the life of prominent Ginanic poet Peer Sums, who belonged to Patan. Her research work revealed things which were unknown to Gujarati literature,’’ said Dr Balwant Jani, head of Gujarati Department at Saurashtra University. Lack of research on Gujarati and Ginan literature brought Mallison to Rajkot all the way from France. ‘‘There has been a lot of research work done on Kabir. So I chose Gujarati saints and their santvani, which was not explored much,’’ said Mallison, who has travelled all over Saurashtra and Kutch in the last two decades.

But all this was easy said than done. Not just the language, even the literature was totally foreign to her. But in the end, her interest and dedication helped her overcome the limitations. ‘‘When I started the research 20 years ago, I had no friends and guide here. I learnt Gujarati word by word from the dictionary,’’ she said. To everyone’s surprise, within two years in 1986, she completed the translation of Prabhati. The book published in French also has the Gujarati version on one side.

At Sorbonne University she was a guide to research students. But she prefers to be a part of the never-ending cycle of learning. ‘‘We must remain students for life. I have now retired, but I will continue my research work in Saurashtra and Kutch regions.’’