The independence of India in 1947 gave impetus to the union of France's Indian possessions with former British India. An agreement between France and India in 1948 stipulated that the inhabitants of France's Indian possessions would choose their political future.
| Colonial History of Pondicherry | |
| Portuguese set up a factory | 1523 |
| Dutch buy textiles | 1618 |
| Danes set up a factory | 1624 |
| First French settlement | 1674 – 1693 |
| Dutch rule | 1693 – 1700 |
| French rule | 1700 – 1761 |
| British rule | 1761 – 1765 |
| French rule | 1765 – 1778 |
| British rule | 1778 – 1783 |
| French rule | 1783 – 1793 |
| British rule | 1793 – 1815 |
| French rule | 1815 – 1954 |
Why is Pondicherry famous for?
Puducherry and its ‘Independence Days'
Puducherry will also celebrate its second Independence Day (De Jure Day) on Thursday, August 16.
Puducherry: Puducherry, the French Riviera of India, is unique in several ways - the Union Territory has two Independence Days to celebrate. While the rest of India celebrated Independence Day on August 15, 1947, Pondicherry, as it was formerly known, remained a French colony.
Fifteen years after India gained independence, this small French colony was liberated on August 16, 1962, when Pondicherry was officially merged with the Indian Union.
Thus the union territory celebrates Independence Day on both August 15 and 16. Puducherry will also celebrate its second Independence Day (De Jure Day) on Thursday, August 16.
The French Indhiya Puducherry Pradesh Viduthalaikala Makkal Nala Narpani Iyakkam, a political party, has been protesting, demanding the celebration of De Jure Day for years. Finally, the government recognized the day and celebrated Independence Day and Liberation Day on August 16 and November 1.
Freedom from yoke
The people of the union territory of Puducherry won freedom from the foreign yoke only after seven more years of struggle after India became free on August 15, 1947. Unlike many other states in India, the people of the UT had to launch a separate movement to replace the French flag with the national tri-color. The Indian government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, continued to press for the unification of Puducherry.
India signed an agreement with France in June 1948, which gave power to people to determine the political status of their land.
Later, municipal elections in Pondicherry, Karaikal, and Yanam were held in October 1948. All municipalities except for one elected representative of the French India Socialist Party, a pro-French group. The new councilors, at a meeting, accepted the autonomy offered by the French Government. Later on March 18, 1954, members of the executive council, mayors of Pondicherry, and seven adjoining communes proclaimed their decision to merge with India without a referendum.
All communes in Karaikal also followed suit. The French administration conducted the referendum in the border village of Kizhur near here to ascertain the wish of the people. On 18 October 1954, the municipal councilors and members of the Assembly gave their verdict in favor of a merger with India.
The de facto transfer of the four remaining French settlements to India was signed on October 21, 1954, and came into effect on November 1, 1954. A treaty was entered between France and India, establishing the cession by the French Republic to the Indian Union of the French establishments of Pondicherry, Karikal, Mahe, and Yanam.
The treaty was signed by the then French Ambassador Stanislas Ostrorog and the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, also Union Minister for External Affairs.
Though the government came forward to liberate the Union Territory on 1 November, on August 16, 1962, India and France exchanged the instruments of ratification under which France ceded to India full sovereignty of the territories it held.
The French government passed legislation in Parliament ratifying the Treaty of Cession, and Puducherry became De Jure free on August 16, 1962.
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