1

1)I)OI+(I1O)

The Iirst French expedition to India is believed to have taken place in the Iirst halI oI the 16th
century, during the reign oI Franois I, when two ships were Iitted out by some merchants oI
Rouen to trade in eastern seas; they sailed Irom Le Havre and were never aIterwards heard oI.
The Iirst state-sponsored French voyage to the Indies occurred in 1603, a voyage captained by
Paulmier de Gonneville oI HonIleur. French king Henry IV authorized the Iirst Compagnie des
Indes Orientales, granting the Iirm a 15-year monopoly oI the Indies trade. This precursor to
Colbert's later Compagnie des Indes Orientales, however, was not a joint-stock corporation, and
was Iunded by the Crown. In 1604 a company was granted letters patent by Henri IV, but the
project Iailed. Fresh letters patent were issued in 1615, and two ships went to India, only one
returning.The French East India Company was set in 1664, at the instance oI a minister, Colbert,
in the reign oI Louis XIV.The French Company was created, Iinanced and controlled by the
State and it diIIered Irom the English Company which was a private commercial venture.They
established their Iirst Iactor)` at Surat in 1668 and at Masulipatnam in 1669.The Ioundation oI
Pondicherry was laid in 1673 which, aIterwards, became its capital. They also developed a
Iactory in Chandernagar.
Although the erstwhile French ruler Louis XII had granted letters oI monopoly to French traders
as early as 1611, it was only in 1667 that a French company was set up at Surat (Gujarat) with
Francis Caron as its Director-General. In 1669, another French company was set up in
Masulipatnam (Andhra Pradesh), aIter the then king oI Golconda, exempted the French Irom
paying import and export duty. In 1672, Caron was succeeded by Francis Martin, who is
regarded as the real Iounder oI the French colonialism in India
Chandannagar was established as a French colony in 1673, when the French obtained permission
Irom the Nawab oI Bengal, Ibrahim Khan, to establish a trading post on the right bank oI the
Hooghly river. It became a permanent French settlement in 1688, and in 1730, Joseph Franois
Dupleix was appointed governor oI the city. During his administration numerous brick houses
were erected in the town and a Iairly large degree oI maritime trade was carried on.
In 1756, war broke out between France and Great Britain, and Colonel Robert Clive oI the
British East India Company and Admiral Watson oI the British Navy bombarded and captured
Chandannagar (a.k.a Chandernagore) in March 1757. The town's IortiIications and many houses
were demolished thereaIter, and Chandannagar's importance as a commercial center was
eclipsed. Chandannagar was restored to the French in 1763, but retaken by the British in 1794
during the Napoleonic Wars. The city was returned to France in 1816. It was governed as part oI
French India, under a governor-general in Pondicherry until 1950.



I)1)(1 1/I 1)I1/ (O^T/)
The coming oI French to India started very late and their initial attempts Iailed because oI
Dutchess. Even then peoplelike Henry IV. Rishu and Colbert (Iinance minister oI Henry IV)
realised the importance oI Eastern trade. The French East India Company (French: La
Compagnie franaise des Indes orientales or Compagnie franaise pour le commerce des Indes
orientales) was a commercial enterprise, Iounded in 1664 on Colbert`s request to compete with
the British and Dutch East India companies in colonial India.

Planned by Jean-Baptiste Colbert, it was chartered by King Louis XIV Ior the purpose oI trading
in the Eastern Hemisphere. It resulted Irom the Iusion oI three earlier companies, the
1660 Compagnie de Chine, the Compagnie d'Orient and Compagnie de Madagascar. The Iirst
Director General Ior the Company was De Faye, who was adjoined two Directors belonging to
the two most successIul trading organizations at that time:Franois Caron, who had spent 30
years working Ior the Dutch East India Company, including more than 20 years in Japan,
1
and
Marcara Avanchintz,a powerIul Armenian trader Irom Ispahan, Persia.
2
In 1667, an expedition
group came to India under the leadership oI Francis Caro and established Iirst Iactory in Surat.
In 1669, Mercara established second Iactory in Masulipatnam aIter getting permission Irom the
Sultan oI Golkunda.
In 1672, the French acquired Santhome near Madras.
In 1673, Franco Martin and Laspino got a village Irom the Muslim Subedar oI Valikondapur,this
latter became Pondicherry.
In 1674,Shaista Khan, nawab oI Bengal provided a place Ior the French settlement where the
Iamous mansion oI Chandranagar was built in 1692.
The rivalry between the Dutch and French were going on in Europe due to which Dutch took
Pondicherry away Irom French in 1963, but aIter the Rizwik treaty in 1697, Dutch returned
Pondicherry to French.
The initial capital oI the revamped Compagnie des Indes Orientales was 15 million livres,
divided into shares oI 1000 livres apiece. Louis XIV Iunded the Iirst 3 million livres oI
investment, against which losses in the Iirst 10 years were to be charged.
3
The initial stock

1
A Collector's Guide to Books on Japan in English By Jozef Rogala, p.31

McCabe, p.104

Shakespeare, Howard (2001). "The Compagnie des ndes". Archived from the original on 2007-12-25. Retrieved
2008-03-06.


oIIering quickly sold out, as courtiers oI Louis XIV recognized that it was in their interests to
support the King`s overseas initiative. The Compagnie des Indes Orientales was granted a 50-
year monopoly on French trade in the Indian and PaciIic Oceans, a region stretching Irom the
Cape oI Good Hope to the Straits oI Magellan.
4
The French monarch also granted the Company
a concession in perpetuity Ior the island oI Madagascar, as well as any other territories it could
conquer.
The Company Iailed to Iound a successIul colony on Madagascar, but was able to establish ports
on the nearby islands oI Bourbon and le-de-France (today's Reunion and Mauritius). By 1719, it
had established itselI in India, but the Iirm was near bankruptcy. In the same year theCompagnie
des Indes Orientales was combined under the direction oI John Law with other French trading
companies to Iorm the Compagnie Perpetuelle des Indes). The reorganized corporation resumed
its operating independence in 1723.
With the decline oI the Mughal Empire, the French decided to intervene in Indian political aIIairs
to protect their interests, notably by Iorging alliances with local rulers in south India. From 1741
the French under Joseph Franois Dupleix pursued an aggressive policy against both the Indians
and the British until they ultimately were deIeated by Robert Clive. Several Indian trading ports,
including Pondicherry and Chandernagore, remained under French control until 1954.
The Company was not able to maintain itselI Iinancially, and it was abolished in 1769, about 20
years beIore the French Revolution. King Louis XVIissued a 1770 edict that required the
Company to transIer to the state all its properties, assets and rights, which were valued at 30
million livres. The King agreed to pay all oI the Company`s debts and obligations, though
holders oI Company stock and notes received only an estimated 15 percent oI the Iace value oI
their investments by the end oI corporate liquidation in 1790.
5
The company was reconstituted in 1785
6
and issued 40,000 shares oI stock priced at 1,000 livres
apiece
7
. It was given monopoly on all trade with countries beyond the Cape oI Good Hope
8
Ior
an agreed period oI seven years.
9
The agreement, however, did not anticipate the French
Revolution, and on 3 April 1790 the monopoly was abolished by an act oI the new French
Assembly which enthusiastically declared that the lucrative Far Eastern trade would henceIorth

!
1n{v.

1n{v.1

Soboul, p.192.

1n{v.

iiv
^
1n{v.
!

be "thrown open to all Frenchmen".
10
The company, accustomed neither to competition nor
oIIicial disIavor, Iell into steady decline and was Iinally liquidated in 1794.
|3|


























10
1n{v.



I11 )11 OI I11 I)1)(1 TO+1) 1) 1)I1/
Pondicherry, reduced to the necessity oI conIining his operations to sea. Taking up a position at
Mergei, near the entrance oI the Malacca Straits, he had employed himselI industriously in
intercepting French traders, and in eIIectively stopping French Commerce.
In the year 1725, a small French squadron under the command oI M. de Pardaillan, acting under
the orders oI the government oI Pondicherry, came to opposite the little town oI Maihi, just
below Tellichery, on the Malabar C oast and summoned the place to surrender. The situation oI
Maihi indeed seemed to place it out oI all danger. He at all events, was hesitating as to the course
he should adopt under the circumstances, when the captain oI one oI his ships submitted to him a
plan which he begged he might be permitted to carry himselI into execution. The name oI this
captain was Bertrand Francois Mahe De La Bourdonnais.
La Bourdonnais was born at St. Malo in 1699. When not ten years old, he was entered as a
common sailor on board a merchant ship bound Ior the South Sea. In his twentieth year, he
entered the service oI the French India Company, as second lieutenant ina vessel bound to Surat.
In 1722, he was promoted to be Iirst lieutenant, and in that grade made a third voyage to the
Indies. On arriving at Pondicherry, he was attached to the squadron oI M. De Pardaillan, just
starting Ior the conquest oI Maihi. It is under the orders oI this commodore, hesitating regarding
the attack oI the place, that we now Iind him.
As an acknowledgement oI the skill and enterprise oI his young captain, the commodore, by a
slight alteration oI the letters which went to Iorm the name oI the captured town, transIormed it
Irom the Indian Maihi or Maihi into the French Mahe-the Iirst name oI La Bourdonnais.
The order oI events, as they occurred at Pondicherry, will not allow us to proceed Ior the present
with the career oI La Bourdannais. It had been necessary to advert to the proceedings oI one
whose inIluence upon French India was destined to be even more direct, more commanding,
more enduring;- whose brilliant genius all but completed the work which Francois Martin had
begun, who had indebted Ior all that he did accomplish to his own unassisted energies, who owed
his Iailure to carry through all his high soaring designs to that system oI universal corruption,
which during the reign oI Louis XV, consumed the very vitals oI France, ruled in her palaces and
tainted all her public oIIicer.
Commodore Barnet, prevented by the interdiction oI the Nawab Anwaroodan Irom attacking
Pondicherry, reduced to the necessity oI conIining his operations to sea. Taking up a position at


Mergui, near the entrance oI the Malacca Straits, he had employed himselI industriously in
intercepting French Traders, and in eIIectively stopping French Commerce.

























/ O+)IO))/1 /)I I+T11\

The eight ships which Iormed aIter the repulse oI the English Ieet, the squadron commanded by
La Bourdonnais, anchored oII Pondicherry on the evening oI july8,1746. The meeting between
the governor and the victorious admiral was cordial. There was no reason why it should not be
so, Ior they were striking alike aIter the same object an object which could be attained only by
their mutual cooperation. La Bourdonnais held an independent command, but on the continent oI
India he was subordinate to the council oI Pondicherry. In the contemplated expedition, however,
against the English, Dupleix was very willingly to give up the entire control oI the operations to
La Bourdonnais. He was mainly anxious to see that the operations themselves were well matured
and he was naturally resolved to hold in his own hands the supreme political power. The
correspondence between the two had been conducted, as we have seen, in the most cordial
manner. Dupleix had declared that the honour oI success would belong to La Bourdonnais that
he would use every eIIort in his power to contribute to that success.He had added: I shall
esteem myselI happy to have contributed to it by causes which will only derive merit Irom your
conduct and its happy results, Ior which I am ardently desirous. I hope that my previous
assurances, as well as this one, will convince you oI the light in which I regard the question. I
Ieel too much the importance oI our union, not to give myselI entirely to bring it about. Have no
Iears, thereIore, on the score, but count on me as on yourselI`. La Bourdonnais had replied in
similar terms:` Be assured, he wrote Irom the Malabar Coaston June 21
st
, that my conduct will be
guided as much as possible by your counsels. I burn with impatience to embrace you, and to
consult with you measures Ior repairing our losses`.












I)1)(1 1)I1/ O) I)1)(1 TO11O) 1) 1)I1/

French India is a general name Ior the Iormer French possessions
in India (French: etablissements franais de lInde.) These included Pondichery(now
Puducherry), Karikal and Yanaon (now Yaam) on the Coromandel Coast, Mahe on the Malabar
Coast, and Chandannagar in Bengal. In addition there were lodges (loges) located
at Machilipatnam, Kozhikode and Surat, but they were merely nominal remnants oI French
Iactories.
The total area amounted to 526 km
2
(203 sq mi), oI which 293 km
2
(113 sq mi) belonged to the
territory oI Pondichery. In 1948 the total population amounted to 362,000.

From 1658, Franois Bernier (162588), a French physician and traveler, became Ior 12 years
the personal physician oI the Mughal emperorAurangzeb.
La Compagnie franaise des Indes orientales (French East India Company) was Iormed under
the auspices oI Cardinal Richelieu (1642) and reconstructed under Jean-Baptiste Colbert (1664),
sending an expedition to Madagascar. In 1667 the French India Company sent out another
expedition, under the command oI Franois Caron (who was accompanied by a Persian named
Marcara), which reached Surat in 1668 and established the Iirst French Iactory in India.
11

In 1669, Marcara succeeded in establishing another French Iactory at Masulipatam. In 1672,
Saint Thomas was taken but the French were driven out by the Dutch. Chandernagore (present-
day Chandannagar) was established in 1673, with the permission oI Nawab Shaista Khan,
the Mughalgovernor oI Bengal. In 1674, the French acquired Valikondapuram Irom the Sultan
oI Bijapur and thus the Ioundation oI Pondichery was laid. By 1720, the French lost their
Iactories at Surat, Masulipatam and Bantam to the British.
On February 4, 1673, Bellanger, a French oIIicer, took up residence in the Danish Lodge in
Pondichery and the French Period oI Pondichery began. In 1674 Franois Martin, the Iirst
Governor, started to build Pondichery and transIormed it Irom a small Iishing village into a
Ilourishing port-town. The French were in constant conIlict, in India, with the Dutch and the
English. In 1693 the Dutch took over and IortiIied Pondichery considerably. The French
regained the town in 1699 through the Treaty oI Ryswick, signed on September 20, 1697.

11
Asia in the making of Europe p. 747 & %he Cambridge history of the British Empire p. 66.

^

Between 1720 and 1741, the objectives oI the French were purely commercial. The French
occupied Yanam (about 840 kilometres or 520 miles north-east oI Pondichery on Andhra Coast)
in 1723, Mahe on Malabar Coast in 1725 and Karaikal (about 150 kilometres or 93 miles south
oI Pondichery) in 1739. AIter 1742 political motives began to overshadow the desire Ior
commercial gain. All Iactories were IortiIied Ior the purpose oI deIense.
In the 18th century the town oI Pondichery was laid out on a grid pattern and grew considerably.
Able Governors like Pierre Christophe Le Noir (172635) and Pierre Benot Dumas (173541)
expanded the Pondichery area and made it a large and rich town. Soon aIter his arrival in 1741,
the most Iamous French Governor oI Pondichery and all French India, Joseph Franois
Dupleix began to cherish the ambition oI a French Empire in India but his superiors had less
interest. French ambition clashed with the British interests in India and a period oI military
skirmishes and political intrigues began. Under the command oI the Marquis de Bussy-
Castelnau, Dupleix's army successIully controlled the area between Hyderabad andCape
Comorin. But then Robert Clive arrived in India in 1744, a dare-devil British oIIicer who dashed
the hopes oI Dupleix to create a French Colonial India.
AIter a deIeat and Iailed peace talks, Dupleix was recalled to France in 1754.
In spite oI a treaty between the British and French not to interIere in local politics, the intrigues
continued. For example, in this period the French were also expanding their inIluence at the
court oI the Nawab oI Bengal, and expanding their trade volume in Bengal. In 1756, the French
encouraged the Nawab (Siraj ud-Daulah) to attack and conquer the British Fort
William in Calcutta. This led to the Battle oI Plassey in 1757 where the British decisively
deIeated the Nawab and his French allies, and extended British power over the entire province oI
Bengal.
Subsequently France sent Lally-Tollendal to regain the French losses and chase the British out oI
India. Lally arrived in Pondichery in 1758, had some initial success and razed Fort St. David
in Cuddalore District to the ground in 1758, but strategic mistakes by Lally led to the loss oI
the Hyderabad region, the Battle oI Wandiwash, and the siege oI Pondicherry in 1760. In 1761
Pondichery was razed to the ground by the British in revenge and lay in ruins Ior Iour years. The
French had lost their hold now in South India too.
In 1765 Pondichery was returned to France aIter a peace treaty with Britain in Europe.
Governor Jean Law de Lauriston set to rebuild the town on the old Ioundations and aIter Iive
months 200 European and 2000 Tamil houses had been erected. In 1769, the French East India
Company, unable to support itselI Iinancially, was abolished by the French Crown, who took
responsibility Ior administering the French colonies in India. During the next 50 years
10

Pondichery changed hands between France and Britain with the regularity oI their wars and
peace treaties.
In 1816, aIter the conclusion oI the Napoleonic Wars, the Iive establishments oI
Pondichery, Chandernagore, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam and the loges at Machilipattnam,
Kozhikode and Surat were returned to France. Pondichery had lost much oI its Iormer glory, and
Chandernagore was eclipsed as a trading centre by the nearby British establishment oI Calcutta
(present-day Kolkata). Successive governors improved inIrastructure, industry, law and
education over the next 138 years.
By decree oI the January 25, 1871, French India was provided with an elective general council
(Conseil general) and elective local councils (Conseil local). The results oI this measure were not
very satisIactory, and the qualiIications Ior and the classes oI the Iranchise were modiIied. The
governor resided at Pondichery, and was assisted by a council. There were two %ribunals
dinstance (Tribunals oI Iirst instance) (at Pondichery and Karikal) one Cour dappel (Court oI
Appeal) (at Pondichery) and Iive Justices de paix (Justice oI the Peace). The agricultural produce
consisted oI rice, earth-nuts, tobacco, betel nuts and vegetables.
The independence oI India in August 1947 gave impetus to the union oI France's Indian
possessions with Iormer British India. The lodges inMachilipatnam, Kozhikode and Surat were
ceded to India in October 1947. An agreement between France and India in 1948 agreed to an
election in France's remaining Indian possessions to choose their political Iuture. Governance oI
Chandernagore was ceded to India on 2 May 1950, then it was merged with West Bengal state on
2 October 1955. On November 1, 1954, the Iour enclaves oI Pondichery, Yanam, Mahe, and
Karikal were de factotransIerred to the Indian Union and became the Union
Territory oI Pondichery. The de fure union oI French India with India did not take place until
1962, when the French Parliament in Paris ratiIied the treaty with India.








11


I)1)(1 1)I+1)(1 O) 11IO) OI TO)I1(11))

When we take a look at the History oI Pondicherry, then we come to know that human habitation
in this Union Territory oI India can be traced quite Iar back in history. According to the various
views expressed regarding the origin oI Pondicherry, we come to know that once Pondicherry
was known by the name oI Vedapuri and sage Agastya used to reside here. Even some French
archaeologists believe Agastya's ashram was in the spot where currently Sri Aurobindo Ashram
is situated. History oI Pondicherry also shows us that it had business relation with ancient Rome
and Greece around the time oI 100 BC and 100 AD. This is proved by the evidence oI the
ancient port town that has been excavated at Arikamedu, Iew miles away Irom Pondicherry.
From Pondicherry's history we also come to know that it Ilourished in the Chola period, as is
evident Irom the coins that have been discovered here.
Modern History oI Pondicherry began with the advent oI the French in India. In 1643
Pondicherry came under French sovereignty and remained so Ior 20 years aIter which Ior some
time it was under Dutch control. In 1699, it again became the property oI the French and
Franois Martin, the administrator, restored peace in Pondicherry and made developments in the
town. For about 250 years Pondicherry remained more or less peaceIul other than the Carnatic
Wars. In the years to come History in Pondicherry witnessed the rivalry between the French and
the British which disturbed the serenity oI Pondicherry and it ended only when the British
recognized the French supremacy over Pondicherry in 1814. From that time till 1954, History oI
Pondicherry was a history oI French domination.
On 1st November 1954, France agreed to give up Pondicherry and the other three territories to
the Indian government, and the Indian Ilag was hoisted Ior the Iirst time in Pondicherry with a
grand ceremony and 21 gun shots. Pondicherry's history took a new turn in 1963, when the
'Territory oI Pondicherry' was created with Pondicherry, Karikal, Yanam and Mahe. It started the
beginning oI a new era in Pondicherry's glorious history.
A remarkable degree oI French inIluence in Puducherry exists to this date. Puducherry was
designed based on the French (however originally Dutch) grid pattern and Ieatures neat sectors
and perpendicular streets. The entire town is divided into 2 sections, the French Quarter (Ville
Blanche or 'White town') and the Indian quarter (Ville Noire or 'Black Town'). Many streets still
retain their French names, and French style villas are a common sight in Puducherry. In the
French quarter, the buildings are typically colonial style with long compounds and stately walls.
The Indian quarter consists oI houses lined with verandas and houses with large doors and grills.
These French and Indian style houses are identiIied and their architecture preserved Irom
destruction by an organization named INTACH. The use oI French language can be still seen in
Puducherry.
1

Pondicherry still has a large number oI Indian and a small number oI non-Indian descent
residents with French passports. These are descendants oI those who chose to remain French
when the then ruling French Establishment presented the people oI Puducherry with an option to
either remain French or become Indians at the time oI Puducherry's transIer to India in 1954.
Apart Irom the monuments pertaining to the French period, there is the French Consulate in
Puducherry and several cultural organisations. Another important one is 'Le Foyer du Soldat'. It
is a legion hall Ior soldiers who served in the diIIerent French wars.
OI the cultural organisations the French Institute oI Pondicherry, the Pondicherry Centre oI
the Ecole Iranaise d'Extrme-Orient and a branch oI the Alliance Franaise are noteworthy.
A French-medium school system, the Lycee Franais de Pondichery, continues to operate under
the aegis oI the French Minister oI National Education (France).

















1

(O+T I 1/I OI /)/O)

The Coup d'tat of Yanaon (Hindi: anam Rfyaghtuka Charya) was an incident which
brought interest Ior both India and France when both governments were in an ongoing
negotiations in Delhi andParis regarding the Iuture oI French settlements in India in 1954.
Yanam was a predominantly pro-French colony, with staunch pro-French leaders like Samatam
Krouschnaya, Kamichetty Sri Parassourama Varaprassada Rao Naidu, Kamichetty Venougopala
Rao Naidou and Kalla Venkata Ratnam. However, later events led by the intervention oI Consul
General, Sri Kewal Singh and Dadala Raphael Ramanayya led to the liberation oI the colonies.
The coup d'etat oI Yanaon was interpreted by diIIerent people. While Indian nationalists
considered it as an act oI liberation, French supporters considered it as an act oI treachery.
The coup d'etat de Yanaon was a part in the liberation and merger oI French Establishments oI
India and thereIore had the same causes as that oI the liberation and merger oI French colonies
into India. The only diIIerence was Yanam was a region with a predominant pro-French mindset.
The immediate cause is said to be the decision oI Consul General Sri Kewal Singh on the night
oI 11 April 1954 at the conIerence at Kandamangalam. Since Yanam was small in area and
population, he requested Dadala Ior a plan Ior its liberation which ultimately resulted in the coup
d'etat de Yanaon.
On 10 December 1953, Consul General R.K. Tandon was transIerred and Kewal Singh took his
place. He stood behind Sellane Naicker and Dadala. He was able to detach the pro-
French leaders and members oI the assembly (Assemblee representative) Irom the French camp
and took them to New Delhi.
The uniIication movement gathered momentum under V. Subbiah, when the pro-French
leader Edouard Goubert switched his loyalty to the pro-merger camp. A momentous event in the
Ireedom movement oI Pondichery occurred on 18 March 1954, when the members oI the
executive council and mayor oI Pondichery and seven adjoining communes proclaimed their
decision to merge with the Indian Union without a reIerendum. All the communes in Karikal also
Iollowed suit. This decision was to be conIirmed by the Representative Assembly.
When the French India Socialist Party was preparing to move the merger resolution, the French
Governor scuttled it by postponing the session. Provoked by this, the Socialists planned to
capture the outlying communes one by one and move to Pondichery. The Communist Party was
also ready to launch a campaign oI direct action to merge Pondichery with India. Accordingly,
1!

the leaders oI the French India Socialist Party hoisted the Indian National Flag atop the
Nettapakkam police station on the last day oI March in 1954. Thus, a Provisional
Government with Edouard Goubert as the head, was Iormed in the enclave oI Nettapacom. The
Indian Armed Reserve was posted round its borders.
In the meanwhile, negotiations were going on between the French Government and Indian
Government governments in Delhi and Paris. Sri Kewal Singh met all the leaders oI
the Provisional Governmentat a conIerence in Kandamangalam in the night oI 11 April 1954. He
explained that the French authorities were making Iun oI the petty Provisional government oI
Nettapacom. He suggested that iI the leaders wanted real liberation oI all settlements, they
should occupy any oI the big Iour settlements. While dropping Dadala at his home Irom the
meeting, Sri Kewal Singh asked Dadala what he thought oI the plan and iI he had any ideas.
Subsequently, a plan was Iormed Ior Dadala to try to liberate Yanam.
On 13 April 1954, Dadala arrived in Yanam Ior working out a possibility oI its liberation Irom
the French. On arrival he realised that Yanam was very much dominated by the pro-French
atmosphere and hence, there was no living nationalism signs. On 14 April 1954, he proceeded
to Kakinada, a border town to Yanam which was coming under East Godavari District oI Andhra
Pradesh State in India. There he met all the district leaders and oIIicials Ior help and aid.
However, he didn`t Iind any encouraging response Irom them. Likewise, in Yanam, his handIul
oI Iriends and relatives warned him that he would be captured and killed iI he ventured to start a
nationalist agitation there. Everybody in Yanam seemed to have stood Iour square behind the
French administration. Next day when Dadala stepped in to meet some oI his Iollowers in
Farampeta village, he was ambushed by the French Police. He pulled out his revolver, Iired in
the air and escaped over a nearby Ilood bank. From there he hastily retreated to the Indian
territory.
Returning to Kakinada, he purchased a large number oI Congress Ilags and started a house-to-
house campaign, requesting students and their leaders to organise a meeting in the town hall
grounds. Along with his new nationalistic recruits, he hired lorries with congress Ilags and
people, made tours in the streets oI Yanam, inviting them to the meetings. Once the meetings
were organised, he urged the people to help him in his struggle Ior liberation oI Yanam.
Then the French police raided some oI the villages on Indian territory. Dadala sent a telegram to
Kewal Singh complaining about the high handedness oI the French police. He installed
loudspeakers around Yanam town, played patriotic songs and explained to people the reasons Ior
merger with India. Inside Yanam, the pro-French leaders (Samatam
1

Krouschnaya and Kamichetty Sri Parasurama Varaprasada Rao Naidu) organised daily meetings
and processions against the merger and normally ended them with eIIigies being burnt.
At the beginning oI June, the Secretary General oI the French administration oI Pondicherry met
Dadala and inIormed him that the government was transIerring the two European oIIicials who
were residing in Yanam. He requested saIety oI these oIIicials Irom the nationalist volunteers
while leaving the place. Dadala Iollowed the two oIIicials till Kakinada Irom where they
departed by train (Circar Express) to Pondicherry.
Now with all white French leaders in Iear oI any mob Iury, the merger leaders decided it was the
right time to strike. Dadala made arrangements to take the administration oI Yanam aIter
consultation with the oIIicials oI Kakinada and other local Yanam leaders Madimchetty
Satianandam (Mayor oI Yanam), Yerra Jagannatha Rao, Kamichetty Sri Parasurama
Varaprasada Rao Naidu and Kanakala Tatayya Naidou (Two Members oI Representative
Assembly Irom Yanam). Though Kamichetty Parasuram Naidu was a pro-French leader because
oI his Iather, %he Grand old man of anam,Kamichetty Venougopala Rao Naidou, he accepeted
to join the pro-merger camp.
During this time, Maddimsetti Iled Irom Yanam, which made his supporters angry and led to
pillage oI his home. A 78-year-old doctor, Samatam Krouschnaya, became the interim Mayor oI
Yanam. He was the lone pro-French leader to Iight against pro-merger leaders. Samatam was
a poet, historian and an Ayurvedic doctor. He wrote many books in Telugu and French.
Since Yanam was extremely predominant with pro-French Ieelings, it made the interIerence oI
Indian military unavoidable.
In the early morning on Sunday, 13 June 1954, Dadala marched at the head oI a Iew thousand
volunteers Irom Kakinada towards the bungalow oI the Administrator oI Yanam, in order to
capture it and hoist the Indian Flag. Bayankar Achary, another Indian revolutionary and patriot
was a member oI the volunteer corps. Marching 50 yards ahead oI his volunteers with
a megaphone, he requested the French police and other oIIicials to cooperate and surrender. The
French police retaliated and threw grenades, which Iell at 20 meters Ir The volunteers took
shelter behind the Manyam Zamindar`s choultry and Iired against the French police who were in
the open in Iront oI the police station. About Iour policemen were wounded, while the remaining
policemen stopped Iiring and ran away to lock themselves inside the police building Iearing mob
Iury. Dadala surrounded them and had them disarmed. The volunteers combed the town and
arrested all pro-French leaders and conducted a court martial against them. When they admitted
to their guilt, clemency was shown to them. The coup d'etat oI Yanam was announced by All
India Radio and Press.
1

The Indian National Flag was hoisted on the top oI administrator's bungalow. Then pro-merger
group Iormed the Revolutionary Provisional Government oI Yanam headed by Dadala and
adopted a resolution declaring anaon A Libere (Yanam liberated).
om Dadala and exploded harmlessly. Then they started Iiring on the volunteers.
Another signiIicant event that happened that day was the death oI Samatam Krouschnaya.
During that day, he battled alone against all pro-merger group Ior French Sovereignty in Yanam.
The location oI Samatam was communicated to Satianandam by his brother Satianarayana.
When Samatam was trying to jump Irom a wall at Pydikondala house and take shelter, he was
shot by Maddimchetty Satianandam who had a pistol given to him by one oI his close Iriends. It
was known that Maddimchetty thought that because oI Samatam only his house got pillaged.
Samatam died there, but even beIore his death he did not stop shouting Jive la France.
The news oI Samatam's death brought tears to many people in Yanam. Had Samatam survived
that day, the coup d'etat would have been an utter Iailure. His death is considered by the French
aconspiracy by India. For locals oI Yanam, it was still a mystery about the real murderer oI their
beloved leader. There was also a rumour that his body was cut into pieces and was thrown in
adjointGodavari River aIter the coup.
The coup d'etat de Yanaon enraged the French authorities oI Pondicherry. Rumours were spread
to the eIIect that the French government was dispatching a cruiser to Yanam to capture Merger
Leaders and to re-establish their authority. Just three days beIore the coup, the
last administrator oI Yanam, George Sala, was recalled by Andre Menard, then Governor
General oI Pondicherry.
Dadala was also appointed as Acting Commissioner Ior Yanam Ior 14 days. Towards the end oI
June 1954, Sri Kewal Singh paid a visit to Yanam and requested Dadala's return to Pondicherry
to continue his activities there. On 3 July, on Kewal Singh's request, Dadala leIt Yanam, aIter
having made all arrangements Ior its proper administration.
On 1 November 1954, Yanam was de-Iacto transIerred to India. Prime Minister Jawaharlal
Nehru visited Pondicherry on 16 January 1955. Edouard Goubert, S. Perumal, Dadala and Sri
Pakirisamy Pillai presented addresses to Pandit Nehru in a public meeting in the maidan oI
Gorimedu.
France declared it was not responsible Ior the events occurred aIter 13 June 1954 in the Treaty oI
Cession signed by French and Indian authorities on 28 May 1956.
1

Monsieur Dadala was appointed as high ranking oIIicer in the department oI the state oI Andhra
Pradesh until he retired on 29 June 1963, three days beIore merger oI Yanam into the newly
IormedUnion territory oI Pondicherry.
























1

^+)1(1T/ /I^1)1I)/I1O) 1) I)1)(1 1)I1/

Though the French established colonies in India in the 17th century itselI, it was not until the end
oI the 19th century they started civil administration in French India.
A French Metropolitan Decree, dated 12 March 1880 adopted a six-year term oI oIIice Ior
Mayors (aire), municipal councillors (Conseil unicipaux) and
commune panchayats (Communes). Thus French India has seen a French system oI municipal
administration.
In the past, municipal administration was virtually the pivot oI the whole administrative
machinery in French India. It had several Ieatures that could serve as a role model Ior hassle-Iree
administration in French India.
The whole system was devised on the same pattern as prevailed in France and other French
colonies. The Territory was originally divided into ten communes in 1880, namely:
!ondichry
Pondichery (CheI-lieu de commune)
Oulgaret
Villenour
Bahour
arikal
Karikal (CheI-lieu de commune)
Grand'Aldee
Nedoungadu
Chandernagore
Chandernagore (CheI-lieu de commune)
ah
Mahe (CheI-lieu de commune)
Yanaon
Yanaon (CheI-lieu de commune)
As the area were Iound too large Ior administration, by decree oI 24 December 1907 they were
re-organized into 17 communes, with eIIect Irom 21 February 1908.
!ondichry
1^

Pondichery (CheI-lieu de commune)
Ariancoupom
Mudaliarpeth
Oulgaret
Bahour
Nettapacom
Villenour
Tiroubouvane
arikal
Karaikal (CheI-lieu de commune)
Tirounallar
Nedoungadu
Kottucherry
Grand'Aldee
Neravy
Chandernagore
Chandernagore (CheI-lieu de commune)
ah
Mahe (CheI-lieu de commune)
Yanaon
Yanaon (CheI-lieu de commune)
Consequent on the merger oI Chandernagore with West Bengal, the number oI communes have
been reduced to sixteen. These sixteen local areas (communes) were declared
as Municipalities and administered by Mayors and the Councils.
Except Pondicherry and Karikal which had 18 and 14 respectively, all other 14 communes had
12 seats each. Thus the total municipal council are 200 in number.
French India had had Iive principal (CheI-lieu) communes. They
are Pondichery, Chandernagore, Karikal, Mahe and Yanaon.
The Mairie (Town Hall) in Pondicherry is called as otel de Jille. It was magniIicent and
elegant 19th century municipality building situated close to the sea near Beach Road in
Pondicherry Town.
0

Other municipalities oI French India, ie., Karikal, Mahe and Yanaon also have their
respective Mairie halls at their place
During French colonial rule, Pondichery settlement had a total oI 102 Sieges. Pondichery
commune had 18 Sieges while other 7 communes had 12 Sieges each. Karikal settlement had 74
Sieges.Chandernagore Municipality had 24 wards, Mahe Municipalite had 12 Sieges and Yanaon
Municipalite had 12 Sieges. Then, they were called previously as Sieges instead oI wards.
Each ward (Siege) was represented by a municipal councilor (Conseiller Municipal). Each
commune possessed a Mayor (Maire) and a Municipal council (Conseil Municipal) which
managed the commune Irom the Mairie (city hall). The liIe-span oI a Municipal council was six
years, with one halI oI the membership renewed Ior every three years.
First and Last ayors:
!ondichry
First : Leon Guerre
Last : Muthu Pillai
arikal
First : Mr.Gaudart
Last : V. Govindarajan
ah
First : Advocate. Paduvankutty
Last : V.N. Purushothaman
Yanaon
First : Bezawada Bapa Naidou
Last : Madimchetti Satianandam (de-jure), Samatam Kistaya (de-Iacto)
Chandernagore
First : Charles Dumaine
Last : Kamal Prosad Ghosh
Elections held on 24 October 1948 and 18 October 1954 are most crucial in the history oI
French India
. Municipal elections were in August 1948, and were conducted more or less peaceIully.
The Congress Karma Parishad, an organization sponsored by Bengal members oI the
Indian Congress Party, won 22 oI the 24 seats. The Parishad had stated its policy as one oI
merger with India.
1

On 15 December the new Municipal Council passed a resolution in Iavour oI such a merger and
requested both the French and Indian Governments to eIIect the change oI administration "in a
smooth and amicable manner beIore March 31, 1949".
In June 1948 the French and Indian Governments came to an agreement as to how the Iuture oI
the French Settlements should be determined. Municipal elections were held
in Pondicherry, Karikal andYanam on 24 October 1948. The two main parties were the French
India Socialist Party, who Iavoured the continuance oI French rule, and the French India
Congress (Congress), who Iavoured union with India.
Franco-Indian negotiations were resumed in early August 1954, that time in New Delhi.
Nationalist agitation in the settlements was suspended while the negotiations were in progress. A
compromise between the French and Indian points oI view was worked out. India and France,
Iollowing talks, issued a joint statement on 13 October 1954 announcing a procedure Ior
deciding the status oI theFrench settlements. Five days later, on 18 October a
joint communique was issued stating that 'all elected members oI the Representative Assembly
and municipal councils will meet on 18 October atPondicherry to consider the joint proposals oI
the two Governments Ior a Iinal settlement oI the Iuture oI the establishments and to record their
decision on these proposals as an expression oI the wishes oI the people. This historical meeting
is called Kiloor Congress.
The importance oI the Congress and the necessity oI the members to attend the Congress were
expressed in a circular, which was signed by the Secretary General Ior French India and
dispatched to the elected members accompanied by the topographical map oI the place where the
congress was to be held together with the admission card. There was a proposal to hold the
congress at karaikal, but that was set aside. Kizhur, a tiny hamlet was Iinally chosen in order to
avoid the disturbances, which the presence oI messrs. Goubert and Mouthoupoulle might have
provoked iI the congress had been held at Pondicherry. Monsieur Balasubramanian, President oI
Assemblee Representative, acted as presiding oIIicer oI the congress. AIter considering the draIt
agreement put beIore them by the French and Indian Governments the Congress voted in secret
ballot An agreement Ior the de Iacto transIer oI the Establishments was thereupon signed
in Delhi on 21 October 1954.





(/+1 IO) 11)/1/I1O) OI I)1)(1 (OO)11
1) 1)I1/

Many interrelated political, cultural, socio-economic and geographical Iactors contributed to the
liberation oI French Establishments in India.
Geographical and cultural divergence in the French India made the French weak in keeping their
hold these colonies.
!ondichry:
Location: Southern region oI Madras Presidency.
Language: Tamil.
Culture: There the culture and way oI liIe oI people was typical Tamil liIestyle.
External factors: Then was the time, when the Tamil people in Madras Presidency were
very powerIul at Centre and State governments in Indian Union. They used to have large
impact on local pondicherians.
'iews: There was a mixed proportion
oI nationalist and francophile sentiments prevailing in Pondichery.
$phere of Influence: Pondichery and its neighbouring communes were completely under
the sphere oI inIluence oI Pondichery.
Chandernagore:
Location: West Bengal State.
Language: Bengali.
Culture: There the culture and way oI liIe oI people was typical Bengali liIestyle.
External factors: Bengal unit oI Indian National Congress used to show large inIluence
on Chandernagore.
'iews: Since Bengal Presidency was one oI the birthplaces Ior Indian Nationalism,
Chandernagore used to have strong feelings of Indian nationalism and predominant anti-
French sentiments.
$phere of Influence: It was completely out oI sphere oI inIluence oI Pondichery.
arikal:
Location: 132 km to the south oI Pondichery in Madras Presidency.


Language: Tamil.
Culture: There the culture and way oI liIe oI people was typical Tamil liIestyle. It was
the only colony in French India which does not have much oI cultural and linguistic
diIIerences w.r.tPondichery.
External factors: The changes political movements in Pondichery and Madras State used
to have very impact on Karikal.
'iews: From a long time, Karikal used to have anti-French sentiments prevailed in them.
$phere of Influence: It was completely under sphere oI inIluence oI Pondichery.
ah:
Location: It was located along the Malabar coast oI Arabian sea in Madras Presidency.
Language: Malayalam.
Culture: There the culture and way oI liIe oI people was typical Malayali liIestyle.
External factors: Keralite Congress politicians in Madras Presidency used to inIluence
Mahe.
'iews: Mahe used to have strong impact of nationalist feelings.
$phere of Influence: It was largely out oI sphere oI inIluence oI Pondichery.
Yanaon:
Location: Along the coast oI Godavari in northern region oI Madras Presidency.
Language: Telugu.
Culture: There the culture and way oI liIe oI people was typical Andhra liIestyle.
External factors: Andhra State politics had no impact on pro-French Yanam.
'iews: Yanaon used to have extremely dominant pro-French atmosphere. It was the
only colony which had very high Irancophile population in native people.
$phere of Influence: It was largely out oI sphere oI inIluence oI Pondichery.
Decolonization was a global phenomenon which was predominant colonial world between 1940
and 1960s. Many colonies thought of having independence from colonial
empires. Nationalism andSocialism had played very important role in achieving this in many
colonies globally.
Insignificance in popuIation and area This was one of very dominant causes for liberation of
French colonies in ndia.
!

Insignificance in territoriaI size The insignificance in area compared with the ndian Union.
The total area of the settlements was well under 2,000 square miles (5,200 km
2
), that of the
Union (excluding Kashmir) well over 1,000,000 square miles (2,600,000 km
2
).
Insignificant in popuIation size The insignificance in population compared with ndian Union.
The total population of the settlements was less than 1,000,000 that of the Union over
360,000,000km
2
).
ack of cIearcut frontiers with India Very few of the settlements had clear-cut frontiers with
ndia. There were many enclaves entirely surrounded by ndian territory, especially
in Pondicherryregion.
conomic Factors The very economic existence of the settlements depended on ndian
goodwill.
ack of miIitary resistance f ndia wished to annex the settlements forcibly there was very little
that France could do to stop her.
The above four factors are most important factors that existed in 1947 which ultimately led to merger of
French colonies in ndia.
After independence, the factors that lead to merger are,
Indian NationaIism With the ndependence of ndia in 1947, there was rise of ndian nationalism in
the people of the colonies in ndia. This was clearly seen by the rise of nationalist local parties in
those regions. Their increasing dominance in the politics of French ndia created an anti-French
feeling in people.
$hift of $ociaIists This was the most important Post-independent cause, probably the sole cause
that led ultimately to the liberation of French colonies in ndia. The members of the French ndia
Socialist Party shifted they stance towards pro-Merger nationalist groups. This gave a catastrophic
and devastating effect to the French rule in ndia. The switch of Edouard Goubert towards pro-Merger
camp became the death knell to the French sovereignty in its colonies
overnor's interference
A momentous event in the Ireedom movement oI Pondichery occurred on 18 March 1954, when
the members oI the executive council and mayor oI Pondichery and seven adjoining communes
proclaimed their decision to merge with Indian Union without a reIerendum. All the communes
in Karikal also Iollowed suit. This decision was to be conIirmed by the Representative Assembly
and when the French India Socialist Party was preparing to move the merger resolution, the
French Governor scuttled it by postponing the session. Provoked by this, the Socialists planned


to capture the outlying communes one by one and move to Pondichery. Accordingly, the leaders
oI the French India Socialist Party hoisted the Indian National Flag atop the Nettapakkam police
station on the last day oI March in 1954.
Result oI Governor General's interIerence,
Capture oI Nettapacom commune.
Capture oI Mannadipet and Bahour communes.
Formation oI Provisional government at Nettapacom.
andamangalam Conference
The conclusion oI Consul General, Sri Kewal Singh on the night oI 11 April 1954 at the
conIerence at Kandamangalam, that For real liberation of colonies one should attack any of the
big four French settlements, Since the French authorities are making Iun oI petty provisional
government at Nettapacom.
|citation needed|
Since Yanam is small in area and population, he
requested Monsieur Dadala Ior a plan Ior its liberation which resulted not only the Coup d'tat
de Yanaon but also the ultimate liberation oI French colonies in India.
Result oI conclusion at Kandamangalam conIerence,
Coup d'Etat de Yanaon under Dadala Raphael Ramanayya on Sunday, 13 June
1954. Yanaon liberated by Indian Military.
Picketing by Mahajana Sabha under I. K. Kumaran at Mahe, 16 June 1954. Mahe liberated, it
was handed over by its Administrator to people.










(O)(+1O)
France was the last to enter into the race Ior commercial communication with India. England had
reaped considerable beneIits Irom their enterprise beIore the attention oI the French people had
been suIIiciently attracted to the trade. The genius oI the French people asserted itselI in a
manner that speedily brought them on a level with the most securely planted oI their European
rivals. Some merchants oI Rouen came to trade in India. French king Henry IV granted patent
letters to establish a company but this plan Iailed. A new company came with the name French
East India Company in 1664.
Almost at the same time as the British Iounded their East India Company, the French Iounded
too. But Ior one reason or another they were not Iortunate, and it was not until many years later ,
in 1668, that the Iirst French Iactory was set up in India. This like the Iirst oI the British, was at
Surat.In 1674, the French captured Valikondapuram Irom the sultan oI Bijapur and thus
established their hold over Pondicherry. By 1720, the French lost their Iactories at Surat,
Masulipatnam and Bantam to British. The French acquired Yanam, in the northeast oI
Pondicherry in1723, Mahe on the Malabar Coast in 1725 and Krikal, in the south oI Pondicherry
in 1739. From 1742 onwards, political motives again dominated over commercial gains and the
Iactories were IortiIied Ior the purpose oI deIence.
But besides having all the usual diIIiculties with native princes to get over, the French had to
Iight the and also the Dutch. Both by land and sea the Dutch beat the French, and drove them
again and again out oI the Iactories which they tried to Iound.
At length the French bought a piece oI ground Irom a native prince about a hundred miles south
oI Madras. Here they built a Iort and town, which they called Pondicherry, and at last began to
prosper.
The French settlement was very small, and they were everywhere surrounded by enemies. So the
leader, whose name was Martin, asked the native prince to allow him to have hundred men.
Martin was the Iirst white man who had thought oI making use oI the Indians as soldiers, and it
was Iound that when they were properly drilled and had European oIIicers they made splendid
soldiers. For nineteen years the French colony prospered. But the Dutch were determined to hunt
them out. One day they appeared beIore Pondicherry with a Ileet and an army large enough to
conquer a whole state.


The French, having promised that they would all go back to France, were allowed to march out
oI their well deIended little Iort with all the honours oI war. This seemed to be the end oI French
power in India.

11O)/T1