Puducherry

French architectural styles are common, a reminder of the years that the territory was part of French India.

Puducherry புதுச்சேரி Pondichéry
Union Territory
Seal of Puducherry
Location of Puducherry (marked in red) in India
Coordinates: 11°56′N 79°08′E / 11.93°N 79.13°E / 11.93; 79.13Coordinates: 11°56′N 79°08′E / 11.93°N 79.13°E / 11.93; 79.13
Country	India
Formation	7 January 1963
Capital and Largest city	Pondicherry
District(s)	4
Government
• Lieutenant Governor	A. K. Singh (additional charge) [1]
• Chief Minister	N. Rangaswamy (AINRC)
• Legislature	Unicameral (33*seats)
Area
• Total	426 km2 (164 sq mi)
Area rank	33rd
Population
• Total	1,244,464
• Rank	29th
• Density	2,900/km2 (7,600/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Puducherrian
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
ISO 3166 code	IN-PY
Official languages	Tamil Malayalam Telugu
Website	www.py.gov.in [2][3]
^* 30 elected, 3 nominated

Puducherry, formerly known as Pondicherry (/ˌpɒndᵻˈtʃɛri/;literally New Town in Tamil^[4]) is a Union Territory of India. It was formed out of four exclaves of former French India namely Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanam and Mahe. It is named after the largest district Puducherry. Historically known as Pondicherry (Pāṇṭiccēri), the territory changed its official name to Puducherry (Putuccēri) on 20 September 2006.^[5]

Puducherry lies in the southern part of the Indian Peninsula. The areas of Puducherry and Karaikal are bound by the state of Tamil Nadu, Yanam and Mahe are enclosed by the states of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala respectively. Puducherry is the 29th most populous and the third most densely populated state/UT in India. It has a GDP of ₹0.21 lakh crore (US$3.1 billion) and ranks 27th in India.^[6]

Mahe Boat Jetty

History

The earliest recorded history of Puducherry can be traced to the 2nd century CE. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea mentions a marketplace named Poduke (ch 60). G. W. B. Huntingford identified suggested this might be a site about 2 miles from the modern Puducherry, which was possibly the location of Arikamedu (now part of Ariyankuppam). 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 CE".^[7]

In 1674, Pondicherry (Pondichéry) became a French colonial possession. Together with Chandannagar (already French since 1673), Mahe (Mahé) (since 1721), Yanam (Yanaon) (since 1731), Karaikal (Karikal) (since 1739) and Masulipatam (1760), it formed the French colony French India, under a single French governor in Pondicherry, although French rule over one or more of these enclaves was repeatedly interrupted by British occupations. Pondicherry was transferred to the young republic of (ex-British) India de facto on 1 November 1954, legally on 16 August 1962, when French India ceased to exist but became the present Indian constituent state of Puducherry, still combining four coastal enclaves.

Geography

Map showing the districts of Puducherry

The Union Territory of Puducherry consists of four small unconnected districts: Puducherry, Karaikal and Yanam on the Bay of Bengal and Mahé on the Arabian Sea. Puducherry and Karaikal have the largest areas and population, and are both enclaves of Tamil Nadu. Yanam and Mahé are enclaves of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala respectively. The territory has an area of 492 square kilometres (190 sq mi): Puducherry 293 km², Karaikal 160 km², Mahé 9 km² and Yanam 30 km². Its 2011 population was 12,44,464.

Some of Puducherry's districts are themselves amalgamations of non-contiguous enclaves, often called pockets in India. The Puducherry district is made of 11 such pockets, some of which are very small and entirely surrounded by the territory of Tamil Nadu. Mahé district is made up of three pockets. This unusual geography is a legacy of the colonial period with Puducherry retaining the borders of former French India.

All four districts of Puducherry are located in the coastal region. Five rivers in Puducherry district, seven in Karaikal, two in Mahé and one in Yanam drain into the sea, but none originates within the territory.

Demographics

Hinduism is the major religion with 87% of the population adhering to it. Other religions include Christianity (6.2%) and Islam (6%).^[8]

Government and administration

Puducherry Legislative Assembly

Puducherry is a Union Territory of India rather than a state, which implies that governance and administration falls directly under federal authority. However, along with Delhi, Puducherry is one of two union territories in India that is entitled by special constitutional amendments to have an elected legislative assembly and a cabinet of ministers, thereby conveying partial statehood.

The Centre is represented by the Lieutenant Governor, who resides at the Raj 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 the indirect category.

Special administration status

The territory changed its name to Puducherry in 2006

According to the Treaty of Cession of 1956, the four 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 the President of India.

Article II of the Treaty states:

"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."

Official languages

French remained the official language according to the "Traité de Cession" (Treaty of Cession) 1956 and the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963. According to the treaty, "the French language shall remain the official language of the Establishments so long as the elected representatives of the people shall not decide otherwise". Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam are the three official languages used region-wise.^[9][10] French lost its official status with the adoption of "The Pondicherry Official Language Act 1965" (Act No. 3 of 1965) in which it is stated that "the Tamil language shall (...) be the language to be used for all or any of the official purposes of the Union territory." It also provides for the use of the Malayalam and Telugu languages in the Mahé and Yanam districts. The law also states that English "may be used for all or any of the official purposes of the Union territory". ^[11]

Official symbols

On 16 April 2007, the government of Puducherry announced that the following were to be its state symbols:^[12]

Culture

French influence

The plan of the city of Puducherry is based on the French grid pattern and features perpendicular streets. The town is divided into two sections: the French Quarter (Ville Blanche or 'White Town') and the Indian quarter (Ville Noire or 'Black Town'). Many streets retain French names, and villas in French architectural styles are a common sight. In the French quarter, the buildings are typically in colonial style, with long compounds and stately walls. The Indian quarter consists of houses lined with verandas and with large doors and grilles. These French - and Indian-style houses are preserved from destruction by an organisation named INTACH. The French language can still be seen on signs and menus, and heard in Puducherry. Puducherry has a number of residents with French passports: most are of Indian descent and a small number are of non-Indian descent. At the time of Puducherry's transfer to India in 1954, residents were given a choice to remain French or to become Indian citizens. Those with French passports today are generally descendants of residents who chose to keep their French citizenship.

Consulate of France located at Goubert Avenue, White Town, Puducherry

Several monuments in the city pertain to the French period. A French Consulate is located in Puducherry, along with several cultural organisations. Another important building is Le Foyer du Soldat, a veterans legion hall for soldiers who served in French wars. Among the French cultural organisations, the French Institute of Pondicherry, the Puducherry Centre of the École française d'Extrême-Orient and a branch of the Alliance Française are noteworthy. A French-medium school Lycée Français de Pondichéry, continues to operate under the aegis of the French Minister of National Education.

Economy

The Promenade in the main town Puducherry is one of the most popular tourist attractions of the Union Territory

Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Puducherry

The gross state domestic product of Puducherry, at market prices estimated by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation with figures in crores of Indian rupees grew from 184 to 25,819 crore rupees from 1980- 2014.

Fisheries

The potential for fisheries is substantial in the Union Territory. The four regions of the Union Territory have a coastline of 45 km with 675 of inshore waters, 1.347 hectares (3.33 acres) of inland water and 800 ha of brackish 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.

Tourism

Puducherry is one of the most popular tourist spots for national and international tourists. Puducherry was the residence of Sri Aurobindo (1872-1950) and the Sri Aurobindo Ashram still operates from Puducherry. A unique experimental city Auroville, the brainchild of the 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.

Transport

Rail

Puducherry railway station

Puducherry is connected by a railway branch line from the five-way junction at Viluppuram and Chennai. The railway line is a broad gauge line.

Road

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.

Yanam Draksharamam Road, Puducherry

Motorcycle and auto rikshaw in Puducherry

Air

Puducherry Airport

Puducherry Airport is situated at Lawspet. The Puducherry Government upgraded the airport in 2012^[14] with a new terminal building and apron to accommodate larger aircraft. The new terminal building was inaugurated in January 2013 and scheduled flights to Bengaluru were launched.^[15] A MoU has been signed with Airports Authority of India for expansion of Pondicherry Airport in two phases.^[16] Karaikal Airport is a planned greenfield airport and will be the India's first airport to be built entirely with private capital.^[17]

Education

Puducherry has a literacy rate 0f 86.55%.^[18] Pondicherry University is a central university located in Puducherry.^[19] Other colleges include Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute, National Institute of Technology, Puducherry, Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Institute of Engineering and Technology,^[20] Pondicherry Engineering College, Rajiv Gandhi College of Engineering and Technology, Rajiv Gandhi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Sri Manakula Vinayagar Engineering College and Sri Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Centre.

In Popular culture

• Puducherry was the setting for Yann Martel's first third of his Booker Prize-winning novel Life of Pi (2001). A portion of the subsequent film adaptation of the same name was filmed there.^[21]
• Lee Langley's novel A House in Pondicherry (1996) was set there.
• Prince Pondicherry is an Indian character from Roald Dahl's children's novel Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (1964). The prince orders Willy Wonka to build a palace of chocolate in India; the palace melts in the hot sun.

See also

• Puducherry (Lok Sabha constituency)
• Causes for liberation of French colonies in India
• French East India Company
• French colonial empire
• Municipal Administration in French India

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Puducherry.

• Official website of the Government of the Union Territory of Puducherry
• Treaty establishing De Jure Cession of French Establishments in India
• Official website of Department of Tourism, Pondicherry
• Puducherry travel guide from Wikivoyage

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