Potted History (April 07) - Pondicherry

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Apr 07	Pondicherry

Pondicherry is about 160 kms south of Chennai and remains a union territoy. The French ruled this territory for 300 years making it their capital in India and it retains a french or mediterranean feel to this day. The French were not the first Europeans with evidence of Roman settlements dating from around 2,000 years ago.

The first expeditions to India may have been taken place as early as the mid 16th century but the French presence began in earnest with the creation of La Compagnie Française des Indes Orientales ( French East India Company) in 1642 and, in Pondicherry, truely began in 1673. In 1674 building began laying the city out in a grid pattern tranforming it from a small fishing village into a flourishing port-town.

The French were in constant conflict with the Britsh and Dutch in India. In 1693 the Dutch took over and fortified the town considerably but the French regained Pondicherry in 1699 through the Treaty of Ryswick signed in 1697.

In spite of treaties, French business interests in the region conflicted with British political plans and in 1760 Pondcherry fell under seige. The town was almost completely demolished. The French commander, the Count de Lally, surrendered the town in 1761; ending French hopes of establishing a trading empire in India and leaving the British East India Company triumphant.

In 1765 the town was returned to France after a peace treaty with England and they rebuilt the town on the old foundations. Pondicherry changed hands several times over the next half century as Britain and France fought then signed more treaties. The last game of imperial tennis ended in 1816 after the Napoleonic Wars when five regions, including Pondicherry, were returned. Although France continued to invest in trade, infrastructure and social engineering, the glory days were over and Calcutta, established by the British East India Trading Company, was the dominant trade destination.

All french colonies in India were given independance along with the rest of India as the British withdrew.