Recently, we celebrated the 75 years of independence of India. On 15th August, 1947,India officially became an independent nation and got freedom from British rule. Since then, we are celebrating 15 August as Independence Day every year.
But do you know, there is a place in India which celebrates Independence Day not just once but twice.
Which Part of India Celebrates Independence Day Twice?
Puducherry, one of the eight union territories of India celebrates Independence Day continuously for two days, that is 15th and 16th August. Along with 15th, 16th August is also an official holiday in Puducherry on the account of Independence Day.
Why is 16th August Independence Day for Puducherry?
Independence Day is the day when India got freedom from British officers and their colonial rule. After being a slave of British Government for almost 200 years, India became an independent country on 15th august i.e. now celebrated as Independence Day across the country.
But Pondicherry was not only under British rule but also under French rule. On 15th 1947, India became independent from British rule but Puducherry was still under French colonies. After 15 years of Indian Independence, on 16th August 1962, Puducherry became independent from the French colonies.
And that was the day Puducherry became a complete independent country. That's the reason why they celebrate both 15th and 16th of August as Independence Day.
Image Source: Google images
On 4th February 1673 a French Company Official whose name was Bellanger, took up residence in the Danish Lodge in Pondicherry. In 1674, François Martin was announced as the first Governor by the French Company who initiated the ambitious project of transforming Pondicherry from a small fishing village into a flourishing port-town.
In 1674 the Governor of “La Compagnie française des Indes orientales” (French East India Company) François Martin, set up a trading centre at Pondicherry and this outpost eventually became the chief French settlement in India.
Among the European companies, wars began for their share of trade with India. Ultimately, Dutch captured Puducherry in 1693 but later returned to the French company by the Treaty of Ryswick in 1699. During the period from 1720-1738 the French company acquired Mahe, Yanam and Karaikal.
The four French colonies which comprised the Union Territory of Puducherry were Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. The Puducherry and Karaikal regions are surrounded by the State of Tamilnadu, whereas Mahe is surrounded by the State of Kerala and Andhra Pradesh surrounded the state of Yanam.
Picture Credit: Google images
In 1761 the British “East India Company” captured Puducherry from the French and restored the French Company administration by the Treaty of Paris in 1763.
In the year 1793,during the French Revolution the British “East India Company” took control of the region and returned to the French “East India Company” in 1814. However, in the late 1850s, when the British “East India Company” gained control of the entire India, they allowed the French “East India Company” to retain their settlements at Pondicherry, Mahe, Yanam, Karaikal and Chandronagor.
Nationalism in Puducherry
The activities of the Indian nationalists had brought about the spread of nationalist
sentiments in French India, giving rise to a new consciousness in the minds of French Indian people. Nationalism in French India was unique in character.
The nationalist upsurge was necessarily generated by the political and social changes introduced in the conventional way of life under the impact of colonial policy of assimilation brought into the territories primarily by the French.
The problems which emerged under this impact, such as dissatisfaction with the existing political and social order and the
introduction of new and conflicting values, proved conducive to the development of nationalism.
Image source: Google images
How Puducherry Gained Independence?
Since the time India gained its independence from British colonial rule in 1947, it raised the issue of the French settlements on the continent with the Government of France. It took seven years for Puducherry to effectively unite with independent India.
The French India Congress was formed in 1946 with the objective of integrating the French possessions with India. Later the following year, the French India Students Congress adopted a resolution on merger.
In January 1948, a resolution was passed by the French People's Convention expressing its determination to merge the French possessions with India. The Communist Party asked the people to accept only the merger.
The Government after Independence which was under Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, was anxious to integrate the French Indian territories with the country.
On 13 October 1954, India and France, issued a joint statement announcing a procedure to decide the status of the French settlements.
In May 1956, a treaty of cession was signed by not the countries. It was ratified by the French parliament in May 1962.
In May 1956, a treaty of cession was signed by not the countries. It was ratified by the French parliament in May 1962.
On 16 August 1962 India and France exchanged the instruments of ratification under which France gave India full sovereignty over the territories it held. From 1 July 1963, Pondicherry and the other enclaves of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam came to be administered as the Union Territory of Puducherry.
And this is how Pondicherry became an integral part of our nation as one of the eight union territories. Later it was renamed as Puducherry.
And this is how Pondicherry became an integral part of our nation as one of the eight union territories. Later it was renamed as Puducherry.
Written By: Nidhi Jha
.jpeg)
0 Comments