PONDICHERRY

union territory of India. It was formed in 1962 out of the four former colonies of French India-Pondicherry, Karaikal, and Yanam, scattered along the Coromandel Coast, or eastern seaboard, and Mahe, lying on the western Malabar Coast. The total area of the territory is 190 square miles (492 square kilometres). The capital is the town of Pondicherry. union territory of India, formed in 1962 from the four former French colonies of Pondicherry, Karikal, Yanam, and Mahe. Pondicherry, Karikal, and Yanam are scattered along the southeastern coastal region of India known as the Coromandel Coast, and Mahe lies opposite Pondicherry on the southwestern shoreline known as the Malabar Coast. The city of Pondicherry is the administrative capital. One of the smallest of the union territories, Pondicherry is united by little other than the Hindu religion; the Tamil language predominates in Pondicherry and Karikal, while Malayalam is spoken in Mahe, and Telugu in Yanam. All the former colonies are noted seaside tourist resorts. Agriculture-including the growing of rice, peanuts (groundnuts), sugarcane, and cotton-and some industries (mainly in Pondicherry) provide the territory's economic basis. Area 190 square miles (492 square km). Pop. (1991) 807,785. city and capital of Pondicherry union territory, surrounded by Tamil Nadu state, southeastern India. The city of Pondicherry lies on the Coromandel Coast 105 miles (170 km) south of Madras. It originated as a French trade centre in 1674, when it was purchased from a local ruler. Now a seaside tourist resort, Pondicherry contains the Hindu ashram (religious retreat) of Sri Aurobindo, now an international study centre, and several colleges affiliated with the University of Madras. The colony of Pondicherry was the scene of frequent fighting among the French and Dutch in the late 17th century, and by 1761 the British had driven the French from the region. Pop. (1991 prelim.) 202,648. Additional reading Francis Cyril Antony (ed.), Union Territory of Pondicherry, 2 vol. (1982), is a gazetteer. Manoj Das, Pondicherry (1976), provides a brief overview. A. Ramasamy, History of Pondicherry (1987), surveys government, society, economy, and culture from prehistory to 1980. The Editors of the Encyclopdia Britannica History The French East India Company (formed by Jean-Baptiste Colbert in 1666) established a settlement in 1668 at Surat and another in 1674 at Pondicherry (French: Pondichry; originally Putucceri, from Tamil: putu, "new," and ceri, "village"). The company's director, Franois Martin, made Pondicherry the capital of the French posts. Mahe was founded in 1725, Yanam in 1731, and Karaikal in 1739. French concerns multiplied in Bengal, with Chandarnagar as centre, especially after 1730 under the direction of Joseph-Franois Dupleix, who in 1742 was appointed general director. From 1763 the French establishments in India, which were under the authority of the king after the abolition of the company in 1769, comprised-apart from a few small posts (loges)-no more than five settlements of moderate size: Chandarnagar in Bengal; Yanam, Pondicherry, and Karaikal on the Coromandel Coast; and Mahe on the Malabar Coast. The English conquest of India lessened the commercial activity of the French settlements. They were occupied by the English in 1778 and then again in 1793, but in 1816 they were returned to France. The Second Republic of France granted them local government and representation in the French parliament. Under the Second Empire, commercial liberalism and Anglo-French understanding gave these settlements a fleeting moment of prosperity. In 1947 the loges were given back to independent India. Chandarnagar was finally transferred in 1951. De facto transfer of the four remaining French possessions to the Union of India took place on Nov. 1, 1954, and de jure transfer on May 28, 1956. Instruments of ratification were signed on Aug. 16, 1962, from which date Pondicherry, consisting of the four enclaves, became a union territory. The Editors of the Encyclopdia Britannica