HT archive: 140 years of French rule ends, Pondicherry merges with India

Pondicherry More than 300,000 people inhabiting ‘what were once French enclaves in India’ rejoined their motherland, India, at dawn on November 1, 1954, ending 140 years of uninterrupted French rule over the four settlements – Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yenam. .

Thousands of people cheered and a 21-gun salute was fired as the Tricolor was raised. (HT archives)

In a short but solemn ceremony, Mr. Pierre Landy, of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presented the Seals of Authority to Kewal Singh, Indian Consul General and Commissioner-designate for Settlements, at Government House, at precisely 6:54 am. officials signed the transfer instrument negotiated by India and France on behalf of their respective governments.

From 07:00, French rule over the four settlements ceased, although sovereignty over them was legally vested in France until de jure transfer.

“A part of India, separated from the motherland, is returning to us of its own free will,” said Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, in a message welcoming the people of what were once French enclaves in India “as subjects of the Republic of India . ”.

“On this occasion, I also offer congratulations to the government and the French people. I am happy that Pondicherry will be a cultural link between the Republic of India and France,” Nehru added.

President Dr. Welcoming the people of Puducherry and other settlements, Rajendra Prasad said in his message: “We will be equal partners in a common endeavor to work for the progress and prosperity of India.”

The president hoped that the spirit in which the friendly transfer negotiations were conducted would serve “as a shining example to other countries facing similar problems of colonialism, which is now an anachronism.”

Soon after the agreement signing ceremony, which lasted about ten minutes, the Indian Tricolor was unfurled over the Government House to a tumultuous ovation from thousands of people gathered on the lawn of the Government House.

THE CEREMONY At exactly 6.45 am, Kewal Singh drove from the consulate to the Government House. He was received at the gate by Mr Pierre Landy. Singh, after inspection by a guard of honor from a platoon of French police, was led to an antechamber where the two officials, under the light of flashlights, signed the historic instrument of transfer amid the boom of artillery guns.

M Landy then shook hands warmly with Singh and introduced French Indian officials to him and other Indian officials.

The transfer instrument, which consisted of six lines in French, read:

“In the year 1954 on November 1 at 6:54 in the morning, as per the agreement signed at Delhi on October 21 between the Government of France and the Government of India. M. Pierre Landy, Diplomatic Consular Representative of the Government of the French Republic, transferred the powers relating to the administration of French establishments in India to Mr Kewal Singh, representing the Government of the Indian Republic.

“The transfer of the various services in accordance with the regulations contained in letter No. 3 annexed to the above-mentioned agreement is laid down for each service in a separate brochure.

“Drawn up in Pondicherry on the same day in six copies and signed by the two representatives. P. Landy and Kewal Singh.”

Shortly after the transfer of power to India, RK Nehru, the Indian Foreign Minister, announced a general amnesty to political prisoners in the settlements at a public meeting. He also announced the extension of the Five Year Plan to these areas. The Government of India, he said, has proposed to extend the civil rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution to the people of these areas.

The Foreign Minister, who conducted the two-year settlement negotiations with the French government, then unfurled the Indian tricolor at the Customs House.

Thousands of people cheered and a 21-gun salute was fired as the national flag was raised. Children of Aurobindo Ashram sang Jana Gana Mana.

From early morning, people lined the beach to watch the Indian national flag rise on the metal flagpole. Leaders including Messrs EG Pillai, Muthukumarappa Reddiar, Muthu Pillai and Subbiah were cheered by the waiting crowd upon arrival at the meeting ground.

NEHRU’S MESSAGE Prime Minister Nehru in his message to Pondicherry said, “I am far from India on this day, but my thoughts are with Pondicherry, where an event of great significance is taking place. A part of India long separated from the Mother Country is returning to us of its own accord, and this change is taking place as a result of a friendly agreement with France. The French settlements in India were small in area but presented difficult problems. It is never easy to solve problems involving the interests and prestige of different countries. It is therefore a matter of special satisfaction that both India and France have managed to resolve this issue with grace and goodwill. In doing so, they have set an example of tolerance, common sense and wisdom. which, if applied to other problems in the world, could lead to successful results.

“I congratulate the people of what were once French enclaves in India and welcome them as citizens of the Republic of India. On this occasion, I also offer congratulations to the Government of France under the wise leadership of its Prime Minister and to the French people. I am happy that Pondicherry will remain a center of French language and culture and will be a cultural link between the Republic of India and the Republic of France. The solution of this problem is a vindication and vindication of the policy we have adopted in such matters. That policy is aimed at peace and patient perseverance. Some people thought it was slow to show results. But the road to peace, even if it seems long, is always the shortest and most satisfying. In this way we will continue to strive, always holding fast to what we believe to be right and yet always willing to be friends with even those who may oppose us. Jai Hind.”