|
 French
dream of an Indian empire has taken life but it also
rapidly came to an end in Pondicherry. Among the
dispersed territories of the territorial Union of
Pondicherry, it is in Pondicherry itself that we can
discover what has symbolized the French influence in
India. That is also what makes this territory unique
and especially, the French district. Something quite
different from the rest of India.
All the French tradition, the quiet atmosphere of
the town influenced by the Ashram of Aurobindo and
the beach, make a whole to give to Pondicherry an
attractive destination. The Union Territory of
Pondicherry includes 4 enclaves located in three
states of South India. It includes the coastal towns
of Pondicherry and Kerala in the Tamilnadu, Yanam in
Andra Pradesh and Mahe in Kerala
The old French colony has retrieved its indian
character, but the scent of the French influence in
"Puducherry" as we call now, can be found again in
the red kepis of the police officers, French
spelling on signboards and traffic signs and some
buildings and old stones .
The slight French accent which tinged Tamil and
English languages that we can sometimes hear,
remains a living memory of this culture. In the same
way, the alignment at right angle of the streets
remains a lovely inheritance of French architects.
Legends associate old Pondicherry with the great
Hindu sage Agastya. Excavations in the region of
Arikame near Pondicherry have proved that Romans had
settled 2000 years ago. Pondicherry has been
successively called Poduke and Podukay in the works
of geographers and historians from the first
centuries of our era.
 Pondicherry,
as we know now, became wide known on the arrival of
the French on the 4 February 1673. 20 years after in
1643, the town became the property of the Dutch
before belonging to France in 1699 with the" traité
de Ryswick". François Martin who was appointed
Administrator following the "traité of Ryswick",
restored stability to Pondicherry and developed the
town. Dumas who succeeded him, followed the
principles created by François Martin.
During approximately 250 years, Pondicherry was a
quite a calm town except during the Carnatic Franco
English wars lead by Duplex and Clove.
In 1742, Joseph François Dupleix, became Governor of
the French India. At the same period, war broke out
between France and England. The situation in Europe,
and the ambitions of Dupleix stirred up the Anglo
French conflict in India.
During the next 70 years, Pondicherry survived in
continuous conflicts of power by the French and the
British.
Pondicherry finally came back to France in 1814 till
1954 date at which it joined the rest of the
Independent India. During these years the
contribution of French Indians at the Belle France
and its colonies was significant and even today,
many descending are living in France and overseas.
History
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