Puducherry (union territory)

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This article is about the Union Territory. For its capital city, also named Pondicherry, see Pondicherry (city).
Puducherry
Territoire de Puducherry
Union Territory of Puducherry
union territory
 • Rank3rd
Population
 • Total973,829
 • Rank2nd
Websitewww.pondicherry.nic.in

Puducherry (formerly Pondicherryⓘ) is a Union Territory of India. It is a former French colony, consisting of four non-contiguous enclaves, or districts, and named for the largest, Pondicherry.

In September 2006, the territory changed its official name from Pondicherry to the vernacular original,[1] Puducherry, which means "New village"[2] in the Tamil language. The territory is called புதுச்சேரி (Putuccēri) or பாண்டிச்சேரி (Pāṇṭiccēri) in Tamil,, or "Pondichéry" in French. It is also known as The French Riviera of the East (La Côte d'Azur de l'Est).

Geography

Pondicherry consists of four small unconnected districts: Pondicherry, Karaikal, and Yanam on the Bay of Bengal and Mahé on the Arabian Sea. Puducherry and Karaikal are by far the larger ones, and are both enclaves of Tamil Nadu. Yanam and Mahé are enclaves of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala respectively. The territory has a total area of 492 km²: Puducherry (city) 293 km², Karaikal 160 km², Mahé 9 km² and Yanam 30 km². It has 900,000 inhabitants (2001).

History

Main article: History of Puducherry
File:PeriplusMap.jpg
Pondicherry was mentionned in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, 1st century CE.

The History of Pondicherry can be traced back to 2 AD. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, of the early 2 AD, mentions a marketplace named Poduke (ch. 60), which G.W.B. Huntingford identified as possibly being Arikamedu (now part of Ariyankuppam), about 2 miles from the modern Pondicherry. Huntingford further notes that Roman pottery was found at Arikamedu in 1937, and archeological 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 AD".[3]

French influence

A remarkable degree of French influence in Puducherry exists to this date. Puducherry was designed based on the French grid pattern and features 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 (Tamil) quarter consists of houses lined with verandas, and houses with large doors and grills. These French and Indian style houses are identified and its architecture is preserved from destruction by an organization named INTACH. If ever anyone wishes to demolish the existing house in the town area and rebuild, they need the permission from this organization and the new built house should resemble the same architectural beauty it possessed before destruction. The use of French language can be still seen in Pondicherry.

Puducherry still has a large number of Tamil and a small number of non-Tamil residents with French passports, these are descendants of those who chose to remain French when the then ruling French Establishment presented the people of Puducherry with an option to either remain French or become Indians at the time of Puducherry's Independence. Apart from 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 for soldiers who served in the different French wars.

Of the cultural organisations the French Institute of Pondicherry, the Pondicherry Centre of the École française d'Extrême-Orient and a branch of the Alliance Française are noteworthy. A French-medium school system, the Lycée Français de Pondichéry, continues to operate under the aegis of the French Minister of National Education (France).

Images from the 'French Town'

Official languages of Government

Map of Puducherry Region, Union Territory of Puducherry, India

Official languages of Puducherry are French, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. Status of each languages varies differently with respect to each district. When communicating between districts of different languages, generally English is used for convenience[citation needed].

1.Tamil: Language used by the Puducherry Government, especially used when communicating within and between the Tamil majority districts of (Puducherry and Karikal) along with issuing official decrees. Also the official Language in Tamil Nadu state.

2.French: It is also the official language of Puducherry Union territory. It was the official language of French India (1673-1954) and its official language status was preserved by Traité de Cession (Treaty of Cession) signed by India and France on 28 May 1956.

It remained as the de jure official language of Puducherry U.T by the Article XXVIII of Traité de Cession which states that,

  • Le français restera langue officielle des Établissements aussi longtemps que les répresentants élus de la population n'auront pas pris une décision différente (French version)
  • The French language shall remain the official language of the Establishments so long as the elected representatives of the people shall not decide otherwise (English version)

Regional official languages

3.Telugu: It is also an official language of Puducherry but used only when communicating within Telugu district (Yanam). So, more correctly it is considered as regional official language of Puducherry while being official language of Yanam District. It is also has official language status in Andhra Pradesh State.

4.Malayalam: It is also an official language of Puducherry but used only when communicating within Malayalam district (Mahe). So, more correctly it is considered as regional official language of Puducherry while being official language of Mahe District. It also has an official language status in Kerala State and Lakshadweep Islands Union Territory.

Language spoken in numbers

As of 2001, number of people speaking in each official languages are, [citation needed]

  • Tamil: 220,749 (In Puducherry and Karikal Districts)
  • Telugu: 31,362 (In Yanam District only)
  • Malayalam: 36,823 (In Mahe District only)
  • French: Above 10,000

Government & administration

Pondicherry Legislative Assembly
Main articles: Pondicherry Legislative Assembly and Pondicherry Municipal Council
See also: Lieutenant Governor of Pondicherry and List of Chief Ministers of Pondicherry

Pondicherry is a Union Territory of India, not a separate State, which implies that the governance and administration of the territory falls directly under the federal authority in New Delhi. However, along with Delhi, Pondicherry is one of the two union territories in India, which is entitled by special constitutional amendments to have an elected legislative assembly and a cabinet of ministers, thereby enjoying partial statehood powers. Under the special provision, the government is permitted to make laws with respect to specific matters. In many cases, such legislations may require the ratification from the federal government or the assent of the President of India.

The Centre is represented by the Lt. 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 financial well-being of the territory, as against the states where financial administration, given a budgeted central grant is the responsibility to the state governments. Consequently, Pondicherry has at various times, enjoyed lower taxes, especially in the indirect category.

Special Administration Status

According to Traité de cession dated 1956, the four former French colonies were assured of maintaining their special administrative status. That is why Pondicherry is the only Union Territory with some special provisions like Legislative Assembly, French as official language, etc.

The Article II of Traité de Cession states that,

  • 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.

Pondicherry's special position in Indian Spiritual Philosophy

Pondicherry was the residence of one of India's most renowned Freedom Fighter and Spiritualist, Sri Aurobindo. The world-famous Sri Aurobindo Ashram and its offshoot, Auroville still operate from Pondicherry.

Pondicherry in literature

  • Pondicherry was the setting for the first third of the Booker prize-winning novel Life of Pi by Yann Martel.
  • [Lee Langley] [A house in Pondicherry]

Economy

Macro-economic trend

This is a chart of trend of gross state domestic product of Puducherry at market prices estimated by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation with figures in millions of Indian Rupees.

Year Gross State Domestic Product
1980 1,840
1985 3,420
1990 6,030
1995 13,200
2000 37,810

Puducherry's gross state domestic product for 2004 is estimated at $2 billion in current prices.

Places to Visit

  • Manakula Vinayagar Temple
  • Pondicherry Beach
  • Auroville
  • Aurobindo Ashram
  • Chunnambar boat house
  • Bharathi Park
  • Museum
  • Romain Rolland Library
  • Botanical Garden
  • Anglo-French textile mills

Road Network

Puducherry is endowed with excellent infrastructural facilities on par with the best available in the country. A network of all weather metalled roads connecting every village exists in the territory. Puducherry has a road length of 2552 km (road length per 4.87 km²), the highest in the country.

Road length comparsion with Tamilnadu and India as a whole.

ROADS
Total Road Length (in Puducherry) 2552 km.
Road Length per 1000 km². Puducherry Tamil Nadu India
4575 1572 663

Classification of Roads

Sl. No. Type of Road Length in

(km)

1

National Highways

64.450

2

State Highways

49.304

3

District & Other Roads

 
 

Puducherry - 173.384

 
 

Karaikal - 55.162

 
 

Mahe - 19.622

 
 

Yanam - 26.460

 
 

274.628

274.628

4

Rural Roads

 

Puducherry - 164.964

 
 

Karaikal - 83.470

 
 

248.434

248.434

 

Grand Total

636.816

See also

References

  1. ^ Bill to rename Pondicherry as Puducherry passed <http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/22/stories/2006082207481000.htm>.
  2. ^ BBC: "New name for old French territory" <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5365248.stm>.
  3. ^ The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, transl. G.W.B. Huntingford (Hakluyt Society, 1980), p. 119.

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