Territories of French India were completely transferred to the Republic of India de facto.
Puducherry,[a] also known asPondicherry,[b] is aunion territory ofIndia, consisting of four small geographically unconnected districts. It was formed out of four territories of formerFrench India, namelyPondichéry (now Puducherry),Karikal (Karaikal),Mahé andYanaon (nowYanam), excludingChandannagar (Chandernagore), and it is named after the largest district, Puducherry, which was also the capital of French India. Historically known as Pondicherry, the territorychanged its official name to Puducherry on 1 October 2006.[11][12]
The Union Territory of Puducherry lies in thesouthern part of the Indian Peninsula. The areas ofPuducherry district andKaraikal district are bound by the state ofTamil Nadu, whileYanam district andMahé district are enclosed by the states ofAndhra Pradesh andKerala, respectively. Puducherry is the 29th most populous of the 36 states and union territories of India, and the third most densely populated union territory. It has a gross domestic product (GDP) of₹210 billion (US$2.5 billion) and ranks25th in India.[13]
The namePuducherry is a compound of the Tamil wordsputu (புது) andcēri (சேரி) meaning 'new settlement'; its old namePondicherry is agallicised version ofPāṇḍi-cēri (பாண்டிச்சேரி) meaning 'settlement of Pandis'.
The earliest recorded history of themunicipality of Puducherry can be traced to the second century CE. ThePeriplus of the Erythraean Sea mentions a marketplace namedPoduke or Poduka (ch 60).G. W. B. Huntingford suggested this might be a site about 2 miles from the modern Puducherry, which was possibly the location ofArikamedu (now part ofAriyankuppam). Huntingford noted that Roman pottery was found at Arikamedu in 1937. In addition,archaeological excavations between 1944 and 1949 showed that it was "a trading station to which goods of Roman manufacture were imported during the first half of the 1st century" Subsequent investigation by Vimala Begley from 1989 to 1992 modified this assessment, and now place the period of occupation from the third or second century BCE to the eighth century CE.[14][15]
French Indian Colonies in 1815
In 1674, the municipality of Pondicherry (Pondichéry) became a colony in theFrench colonial empire. Together withChandernagor (already French since 1673),Mahé (since 1721),Yanam (Yanaon) (since 1723),Karaikal (Karikal) (since 1739) andMasulipatam (1760), it formed the colony ofFrench India, under a single French governor in Pondicherry, although French rule over one or more of these enclaves was repeatedly interrupted byBritish occupations. The territories of French India were completely transferred to the Republic of Indiade facto on 1 November 1954, andde jure on 16 August 1962, when French India ceased to exist, becoming the present Indian union territory of Pondicherry, combining four coastal enclaves. The fifth,Chandannagar, merged with the state ofWest Bengal in 1954. Immediately after thede facto transfer, the area was renamed the 'State of Pondicherry' by the "French Establishments (Change of Name) Order, 1954" issued by theMinistry of External Affairs of India.[16]: 37 The State of Pondicherry continued to be under the direct control of theGovernment of India under the aegis of the Ministry of External affairs until 31 August 1964. Meanwhile, with effect from 1 July 1963, the State of Pondicherry officially became the Union Territory of Pondicherry and after 31 August 1964 it came under the control of the Ministry of Home Affairs.[16]: 37
Until 2016, thede jure transfer day (i.e. 16 August) was a public holiday with no official celebrations taking place.[17][18] In 2016,Lt. Governor of Puducherry,Kiran Bedi, made it a holiday as "De Jure Transfer Day."
Since 2010,de facto transfer day (i.e. 1 November) has been celebrated as Liberation day throughout Puducherry.[19] In 2014, Liberation day was declared as a public Holiday. This initiative was taken shortly after theNDA government came to power in 2014 and newly appointed Lt. GovernorA. K. Singh issued a notification regarding that decision of the central government.[20]
Some of Puducherry's regions are themselves amalgamations of non-contiguous enclaves, often called "pockets" in India. The Puducherry region is made of 11 such pockets, some of which are very small and entirely surrounded by the territory of Tamil Nadu. Mahé region is made up of three pockets. This unusual geography is a legacy of thecolonial period with Puducherry retaining the borders of formerFrench India.
According to the2011 census,Hinduism is the major religion, adhered to by 87.3% of the population. Other religions practiced in the territory includeChristianity (6.3%) andIslam (6.1%).[22][23][24]
According to the2011 census,Tamil is the major language spoken by 88.22% of the population. Other languages spoken in the territory includeTelugu (5.96%) andMalayalam (3.84%).
Puducherry is aunion territory of India rather than a state, which implies that governance and administration fall directly under federal authority. It is one of three union territories (with theNational Capital Territory of Delhi andJammu and Kashmir) entitled by aspecial constitutional amendment to an elected legislative assembly and cabinet of ministers, thereby conveying partial statehood.[25] There has been some interest by the territory's government in receiving full statehood, but budgetary issues remain a consideration. Also,Mahe andYanam may oppose such a change of status.[26]
The central government is represented by theLieutenant Governor, who resides at theRaj Nivas (Le Palais du Gouverneur) at the Park, the former palace of the French governor. The central government is more directly involved in the territory's financial well-being unlike states, which have a central grant that they administer. Consequently, Puducherry has at various times, enjoyed lower taxes, especially in theindirect category.
According to the Treaty of Cession of 1956, thefour territories of former French India territorial administration are permitted to make laws with respect to specific matters. In many cases, such legislation may require ratification from the federal government or the assent of thePresident of India.
Article II of the Treaty states:
Ces établissements conserveront le bénéfice du statut administratif spécial en vigueur avant le 1er novembre 1954. Toute modification constitutionnelle à ce statut ne pourra intervenir, le cas échéant, qu’après consultation de la population. (The Establishments will keep the benefit of the special administrative status which was in force prior to 1 November 1954. Any constitutional changes in this status which may be made subsequently shall be made after ascertaining the wishes of the people).
The most widely spoken first language isTamil, which is native to 88.2% of the population. There are also speakers ofTelugu (6.0%),Malayalam (3.8%) andUrdu (0.7%). The official languages of Puducherry areFrench,[27]Tamil,Telugu (inYanam),Malayalam (inMahe) andEnglish. An official mention inRajya Sabha Parliamentary debates during 2006 confirms that Puducherry has all these five languages as official.[28]
Distribution of languages in Union Territory of Puducherry (2011)[29]
Even after the de facto transfer of the French Indian settlements in November 1954,French continued to remain as theofficial language according to Article XXVIII of theTraité de Cession (Treaty of Cession) of 1956.
Article XXVIII of the Treaty states:
Le français restera langue officielle des Établissements aussi longtemps que les répresentants élus de la population n'auront pas pris une décision différente. (The French language shall remain the official language of the Establishments so long as the elected representatives of the people shall not decide otherwise).
The1963 Pondicherry representative assembly resolution also voted for continuance of French as official language and addition of other languages spoken in Puducherry such as Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam along with English and Hindi.[27]: 151–152
Considering the 1956 Treaty of cession and 1963 Assembly resolution, the 1963 Union Territories Act reconfirmed the 1963 resolution that French shall continue to be used as an official language unless the legislative assembly decides otherwise. The 1963 act allowed provision for inclusion of more official languages. Two years later, new official languages were recognised by The Pondicherry Official Language Act, 1965 which makes no mention of French (but also not officially denying it) implying the implicit continuation of its official language status. The same act stated that the Tamil language shall be the language to be used for all or any of the official purposes of the Union territory and the same official recognition is given for English. The same act also recognized officially Malayalam and Telugu in the Mahé and Yanam districts respectively.[5]
The widespreadanti-Hindi agitations in the mid-1960s in South India would have prompted for inclusion of all the languages suggested in the 1963 assembly resolution except Hindi in the list of official languages of Puducherry. While the Union Territory official gazette's name is in French (La Gazette de L'État de Poudouchéry), it is published exclusively in English.[30]
The jurisdiction of theMadras High Court has been extended to Pondicherry with effect from 6 November 1962.[31] TheChief Justice of the Madras High Court is the head of the judiciary of Puducherry. The present chief justice isS. V. Gangapurwala.[32][33]
The potential forfisheries is substantial in the Union Territory. The four regions of the Union Territory have a coastline of 45 km with675 of inshore waters, 1.347 hectares (3.33 acres) of inland water and 800 ha ofbrackish water. 27 marine fishing villages and 23 inland fishing villages host a fishermen population of about 65,000 of which 13,000 are actively engaged in fishing. Tanks and ponds are also tapped for commercial fish rearing.
Puducherry is one of the most popular tourist spots in India for national and international tourists. Puducherry was the residence ofSri Aurobindo (1872–1950) and theSri Aurobindo Ashram still operates from Puducherry. A unique experimental cityAuroville, the brainchild ofthe Mother, whose inhabitants are drawn from all parts of the world is situated on the outskirts of the city. There are several temples, churches, monuments, parks, and mosques which attract tourists.
Puducherry is connected by a railway branch line from the five-way junction atViluppuram andChennai. The railway line is abroad gauge line with 16 originating trains and 17 terminating trains.[37]
Puducherry has an airport calledPuducherry Airport. It has flight operations between Puducherry and Hyderabad.[39] A new airport is proposed in Karaikal which is called asKaraikal Airport.[40] The nearest airport to Yanam isRajahmundry Airport (IATA: RJA,ICAO: VORY), 90 KM away.
Puducherry has a network all-weather metalled roads connecting the territory. Puducherry has a road length of 2,552 km (road length per 4.87 km2), the highest in the country.PRTC buses play a vital role in Puducherry U.T.
Road length comparison with Tamil Nadu and India as a whole
Pondicherry is the capital city of The Union Territory of Puducherry and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in South India. A French colony until 1954, its old town retains a number ofcolonial architecture buildings, churches, statues, and systematic town planning, as well great influences from the local Tamil architecture. Due to its coastal situation, this town offers a vast array of watersport events and watersport based tourism such as boating, kayaking, etc.
The Dharbaranyeswarar Temple, popularly known as Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple, is one of theNavagraha shrines of Tanjore. This Hindu temple dedicated to the deities Shiva andShani (Saturn), is located in the Thirunallar commune of Karaikal district.
Mooppenkunnu (Hillock)The Mooppenkunnu is aHillock. It is a Heritage picnic spot situated in Mahé district. The hillock contains the historic Light House and is a famous sunset view point.[45]
Walkway
The walkway is located on the banks ofMahé River is one of the major tourist attraction of the district. The walkway surrounds around the landscape of the Mahé town.[46]
AzhimukhamAzhimukham is the estuary ofMahé River and the Arabian Sea. It consists of Tagore Park and a 2 km walkway along the bank of river from the estuary towards Mahé Bridge.[47]
^"Appendix-A: Detailed tables, Table (7): Literacy rate (in per cent) of persons of different age groups for each State/UT (persons, age-group (years): 7 & above, rural+urban (column 6))".Annual Report, Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) (July 2023 – June 2024)(PDF). National Sample Survey Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India. 23 September 2024. pp. A-10.
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