Hero’s Sunil Kant Munjal awarded France’s National Order of Merit

Sunil Kant Munjal, chairman of Hero Enterprise and founder of the Serendipity Arts Foundation

France has conferred one of its highest civilian honours, the Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Mérite (Knight of the National Order of Merit), on Sunil Kant Munjal, chairman of Hero Enterprise and founder of the Serendipity Arts Foundation.

At a ceremony in New Delhi on October 29, the French ambassador to India, Thierry Mathou, presented the insignia to Munjal in recognition of his contributions to education, innovation, democratisation of culture in India, as well as his dedication to fostering deep and lasting ties between France and India.

The award also acknowledges his role in strengthening Indo-French ties through arts and cultural exchange.

Munjal founded the Serendipity Arts Foundation in 2014 to make art more inclusive and accessible. Its flagship event, the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa, has become one of India’s most prominent cultural gatherings, known for its interdisciplinary programming and support for emerging artists. The foundation’s collaboration with French institutions — from residencies under Villa Swagatam to photography grants with Les Rencontres d’Arles — has further deepened cultural cooperation between the two countries.

Ambassador Mathou praised Munjal’s “vision, generosity, and civic responsibility,” saying his initiatives exemplify “culture for all” and mirror France’s own strategy of promoting creative industries as drivers of inclusion and growth.

Accepting the honour, Munjal described it as “deeply personal,” adding that it celebrates “the invisible bridges built between France and India through art, conversation, and shared curiosity.”

Munjal, a former joint managing director of Hero MotoCorp, chairs The Hero Enterprise and serves on the boards of leading educational institutions such as IIM Ahmedabad and ISB. He is also developing The Brij, a new cultural centre in New Delhi aimed at nurturing young artists and cultural professionals.