Merger of Foreign
Settlements in India - 1954
contd...
Pondicherry and its enclaves played a twin role in the history of freedom movement. First it fought for its own freedom and secondly, it gave active support to the Independence Struggle against the British. Great nationalists like Aurobindo Ghosh and Subramaniam Bharti took asylum in Pondicherry when Britishers wanted to arrest them. There were students agitations in 1927 and 1930. Mahatma Gandhiji, Jawaharlal Nehru and Bal Gangadhar Tilak visited Pondicherry and its other enclaves and addressed the meetings. In late 1930’s, Mahajan Sabha were opened in Pondicherry, Karikal and Mahe, which organised Non-Cooperation Movement.
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In 1946, the French India Congress was formed with the sole objective of freedom from the French. In January 1948, People’s Convention passed a resolution expressing its determination to merge the French possessions with the motherland. Agitations went on. The National Youth Congress began a Satyagrah. Many Freedom Fighters processions were lathi charged by the French Indian Police. On 13th March 1954, India and France issued a joint statement about the status of the French Settlements. On 18th March 1854, in a referendum at Keeloor, 170 members out of 178, voted for the merger of the French territories with Indian Union. On 21st March 1954, an agreement on the defacto transfer of the French territories to India was signed in New Delhi between the two countries. On 1st November 1954, the French possessions in India were defacto transferred to the Motherland.
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A treaty of cession was signed by the two countries in May 1956.
It was ratified by the French Parliament in May 1962. On 16th August 1962,
India and France exchanged the instruments of ratifications. Pondicherry,
Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam came to be administered as Union Territory of Pondicherry
from 1st July 1963.
Ever since, 15th August 1947, the Post Offices of Pondicherry were issuing
Independent India’s postage stamps. The first commemorative postal slogan
“JAI HIND” was also issued from Pondicherry On 15th August 1947.
The special cancellation of Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial stamps were also
issued from Pondicherry on 15th August 1948. All other Indian stamps were
found used on the day of release from Pondicherry.
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The first Post office at Pondicherry was opened in 1787, which
was second in the French possessions in India. Other post offices in Pondicherry
were Vallinur B.O. (1875), Bahoor B.O. (1885), Muthialpet (1885), Pondicherry
Ry. Stn. S.O. (1895), Mudaliarpet B.O. (1897), Pondicherry Bazar S.O. (1902),
Ariyankuppam B.O. (1904) and Olugarai B.O. (1907).
The third British Post office in French settlement was at Karaikal in 1794.
Other post offices in Karaikal were Tirumalrayapatnam S.O. (1875), Tirunnalur
B.O. (1898), Kottuchari B.O. (1901), Puraiyar Road B.O. (1901), Nedungaon
B.O. (1903), Ambagarattur B.O. (1904) and Settur B.O. (1905).
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Readers are requested to send their query/comments to Mr. Ashok Kumar Bayanwala, 96, Swastik Society,Navarangpura, AHMEDABAD-380009, INDIA or email to Prashant H. Pandya
