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Revision as of 16:10, 23 November 2011

This article is about the Union Territory. For its capital city, named Pondicherry, see Pondicherry (city).
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புதுச்சேரி
Territoire de Pondichéry
Union Territory of Puducherry
—  union territory  —
Location of புதுச்சேரி
Territoire de Pondichéry
Union Territory of Puducherry
Coordinates 11°56′N 79°50′E / 11.93°N 79.83°E / 11.93; 79.83Coordinates: 11°56′N 79°50′E / 11.93°N 79.83°E / 11.93; 79.83
Country India
District(s) 4
Established 1 July 1963
Capital Pondicherry
Largest city Pondicherry
Lt. Governor Iqbal Singh
Chief Minister N. Rangaswamy (AINRC)
Legislature (seats) Unicameral (30)
Population

• Density

1,244,464 (2nd)

• 2,529 /km (6,550 /sq mi)

Official languages Tamil, French, Telugu, Malayalam
Time zone IST (UTC+05:30)
Area 492 km (190 sq mi)
ISO 3166-2 IN-PY
Website www.pon.nic.in

Puducherry (formerly Pondichéry or 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 original, Puducherry, which means "New village" 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

Puducherry consists of four small unconnected districts: Puducherry, 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).

Mahe beach

History

Main article: History of Puducherry

The History of Puducherry can be traced back to the 2nd century. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, of the early 2nd century, 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".

French influence

A remarkable degree of French influence in Puducherry exists to this date. Puducherry was designed based on the French (however originally Dutch) 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 quarter consists of houses lined with verandas and houses with large doors and grills. These French and Indian style houses are identified and their architecture preserved from destruction by an organization named INTACH. The use of French language can be still seen in Puducherry.

Pondicherry still has a large number of Indian and a small number of non-Indian descent 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 transfer to India in 1954. 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).

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.

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 the Treaty of Cession signed by the Indian Union and the French Republic on 28 May 1956.

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

  • 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

1. Tamil: An official language of Puducherry. It is the most widely spoken language in the territory. Puducherry, being a neighbour of Tamilnadu, shares much of its culture.

2. French: As Puducherry was once a colonial enclave of France, French remains an official language.

3. Telugu: Another official language of Puducherry, but used more within Yanam (Telugu district). Telugu is widely spoken in Pondicherry by Reddiars, Chettys and Naidus. So, more correctly, it is considered a regional official language of Puducherry while being the official language of Yanam District. It also has an official language status in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

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

Language spoken in numbers

As of 2001, number of people speaking in each official languages are,

  • Tamil: 820,749 (In Puducherry and Karaikal Districts)
  • Malayalam: 36,823 (In Mahe District only)
  • Telugu: 31,362 (In Puducherry and Yanam Districts)
  • French: Above 10,000

Official Symbols of Puducherry

On April 16, 2007, The Government of Puducherry announced that the following to be its state symbol:

State Bird Koel
State Animal Squirrel
State Flower Cannonball tree's flower
State Tree Bael Fruit Tree

This statement was announced in the state assembly by V. Vaithilingam, then Minister for Agriculture.

Government and administration

Puducherry Legislative Assembly
Main articles: Puducherry Legislative Assembly and Pondicherry Municipal Council See also: List of lieutenant governors of Puducherry, List of Chief Ministers of Puducherry, and List of districts of Puducherry

Puducherry 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, Puducherry 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, Puducherry has at various times, enjoyed lower taxes, especially in the indirect category.

Special administration status

According to the Treaty of Cession of 1956, the four former French colonies in India were assured of maintaining their special administrative status. That is why Puducherry is the only Union Territory with some special provisions like Legislative Assembly, French as an official language, etc.

Article II of the Treaty 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.

In Indian philosophy

Puducherry was the residence of Sri Aurobindo. The Sri Aurobindo Ashram and its offshoot, Auroville still operate from Puducherry.

Puducherry in literature

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. The potential for fisheries is substantial in the Union Territory. The four regions of the Union Territory have a coastline of 45 km with 675 sq. km of inshore waters, 1.347 ha of inland water and 800 ha of brackish water. There are 27 marine fishing villages and 23 inland fishing villages with fishermen population of about 65,000 of which 13,000 are actively engaged in fishing. Irrigation tanks and ponds are also tapped for commercial fish rearing. The Railways play a vital role for speedy economic growth. The entire cost towards execution of the new broad gauge line for 10.7 km from Karaikal to Nagore would now be funded by the Ministry of Railways and work has already been awarded on turn key basis for laying the new railway line in a period of 18 months. The present availability of power is about 400 MW. The demand is likely to increase with the development of Port, Special Economic Zone, other industrial development, trade, commerce etc.It has been decided to expand the Puducherry Airport so that air services could improve gradually over years, to land ATR to Boeing aircraft, to meet the growing demand for air travel. A MoU has already been signed with Airports Authority of India for expansion of Puducherry Airport in two phases.

Tourist spots

Main article: Tourism in Puducherry

Places to visit

Places of worship

  • Manakula Vinayagar Temple
  • Kamakshi Amman Temple
  • Navagraha Temple (15 ft high Navagrahas)
  • Panchavatee
  • Sri Prithyingara Devi Temple
  • Saneeswaran Temple, Thirunallar (Navagraha Sthalam for Saneeswaran – 5 km west of Karaikal)
  • Varadaraja Perumal Temple
  • Vedapureeswarar Temple
  • Immaculate Conception Cathedral
  • Sacred Heart Church
  • Jumma Masjid
  • Irumbai Maahaleswarar Temple (Special: Lord Shiva came from the Broken Lingam)
  • Sengazhuneer Amman Temple at Veerampattinam (oldest temple near Ariyankuppam)
  • Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Villianur (8 km from Puducherrry)
  • Singagiri temple, abishegapaakkam near thavalakuppam. (Temple of Angry Narashimar).

Transport

Rail

Puducherry is connected by a railway branch line from the five-way junction at Viluppuram (town). The railway line is being gauge converted under Project Unigauge from metre gauge to broad gauge.

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

 
 

Mahé – 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

Educational institutions

Pondicherry University

Puducherry is a Union Territory with one of the highest levels of quality of life in the country with excellent physical infrastructure and almost a hundred per cent literacy level. It is also the place where Sri Aurobindo and the Mother chose to stay and their writings remain a tremendous source of spiritual awakening that emphasizes the progress of humanity and its spiritual brotherhood. A unique experimental city, Auroville, the brainchild of the Mother, whose inhabitants are drawn from all parts of the world, is situated on the outskirts of the city. Puducherry, which still carries several marks of French culture and heritage, was also the place where the national poet Shri Subramania Bharathiar wrote several of his masterpieces that fanned the flames of freedom and also enriched modern Tamil literature. Bharathidasan, a staunch disciple of Subramania Bharathiar, whose poems stressed social revolution and emancipation of women, was also an eminent son of Puducherry. Therefore, it is, indeed, in the fitness of things that this city with such an illustrious history should also have the distinction of housing a Central University that would meet the needs of the people of the Southern states of India in general and those of Puducherry in particular, for higher education.

Institutions

See also

Template:Satop

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.
  4. Le français restera langue officielle des Établissements aussi longtemps que les représentants élus de la population n'auront pas pris une décision différente (French version)
  5. The Hindu: Puducherry comes out with list of State symbols, Dated: April 16, 2007
  6. http://business.gov.in/investment_incentives/infrastructure_pc.php
  7. University, Pondicherry. "Pondicherry University".
  8. avmcpondy.com

External links

Template:India

Emblem of Puducherry Union territory of Puducherry
Capital: Pondicherry
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