Pondicherry
68143
226102776
2008-07-16T20:54:59Z
122.164.133.141
/* External links */
{{cleanup|date=April 2008}}
{{Otheruses4|the [[Union Territory]]|its capital city, also named Pondicherry|Pondicherry (city)|the name Pondy| Pondy (name)}}
{{Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
| type = union territory
| state_name = Puducherry
| native_name = புதுச்சேரி <br> పాండిచెర్రి <br>Territoire de Pondichéry<br>Union Territory of Pondicherry
| capital = [[Pondicherry (city)|Pondicherry]]
| largest_city = [[Pondicherry (city)|Pondicherry]]
| latd = 11.93|longd=79.83
| base_map = IndiaPondicherry.png
| base_map_label = no
| abbreviation = IN-PY
| official_languages = '''[[Tamil language|Tamil]]''', '''[[French language|French]]''', [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]]
| legislature_type = Unicameral
| legislature_strength = 30
| leader_title_1 = [[Governors of Pondicherry|Lt. Governor]]
| leader_name_1 = Lieutenant General Bhopinder Singh(Addl.)
| leader_title_2 = [[Chief Ministers of Pondicherry|Chief Minister]]
| leader_name_2 = N. Rangaswamy
| established_date = [[1 July]] [[1963]]
| area_total = 492
| area_rank = 3rd
| area_magnitude = 8
| population_year = 2001
| population_total = 973829
| population_rank = 2nd
| districts = 4
| website = www.pondicherry.nic.in
}}
'''Puducherry''' (formerly {{audio|Pondicherry.ogg|'''Pondicherry'''}}) is a [[Union Territory]] of [[India]]. It is a former [[France|French]] colony, consisting of four non-contiguous [[enclaves]], or districts, and named for the largest, [[Pondicherry (city)|Pondicherry]].
In September 2006, the territory changed its official name from '''Pondicherry''' to the vernacular original,<ref>Bill to rename Pondicherry as Puducherry passed < http://www.hindu.com/2006/08/22/stories/2006082207481000.htm>.</ref> '''Puducherry''', which means "New village"<ref>BBC: "New name for old French territory" < http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5365248.stm>.</ref> in the [[Tamil language]]. The territory is called புதுச்சேரி or பாண்டிச்சேரி in Tamil, పాండిచెర్రి in Telugu, പുതുശ്ശേരി
in Malayalam 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 (city)|Pondicherry]], [[Karaikal]], and [[Yanam (India)|Yanam]] on the [[Bay of Bengal]] and [[Mahé, India|Mahé]] on the [[Arabian Sea]]. Puducherry (Pondicherry) 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 Pondicherry}}
[[Image:PeriplusMap.jpg|thumb|Pondicherry was mentioned in the [[Periplus of the Erythraean Sea]], 1st century CE.]]
The [[History of Pondicherry]] can be traced back to the [[2nd century AD]]. The [[Periplus of the Erythraean Sea]], of the early 2<sup>nd</sup> Century, 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 [[archeology|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".<ref>''The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea'', transl. G.W.B. Huntingford (Hakluyt Society, 1980), p. 119.</ref>
==French influence==
A remarkable degree of French influence in Pondicherry exists to this date. Pondicherry 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 ([[Tamil people|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.
Pondicherry 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 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==
[[Image:Pondicherry map.png|thumb|Map of Pondicherry Region, Union Territory of Pondicherry, India]]
{{IndiaCensusPop
| title= Pondicherry population
| 1961= 369079
| 1971= 471707
| 1981= 604471
| 1991= 807785
| 2001= 973829
| estimate=
| estyear=
| estref=
| footnote= Source: Census of India<ref name="Population Analysis and Projections">{{cite web|url=www.pon.nic.in/stategovt/pandr/vision2020/pdf_files/APPENDIX.pdf|title=Population Analysis and Projections|work=Census of India|publisher=www.pon.nic.in|language=English|accessdate=2008-06-04}}</ref>
}}
Official languages of Pondicherry are [[French language|French]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]] and [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]].
Status of each languages varies differently with respect to each district. When communicating between districts of different languages, generally [[English language|English]] is used for convenience{{Fact|date=June 2007}}.
1.'''[[Tamil language|Tamil]]''': Language used by the Pondicherry Government, especially used when communicating within and between the Tamil majority districts of ([[Pondicherry]] and [[Karikal]]) along with issuing official decrees. Also the official Language in [[Tamil Nadu]] state.
2.'''[[French language|French]]''': It is also the official language of Pondicherry 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 représentants 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 language|Telugu]]''': Another official language of Pondicherry, but used more within [[Yanam (India)|Yanam]] (Telugu district). Telugu is widely spoken in Pondicherry by Reddys, chettys and Naidus. So, more correctly, it is considered a regional official language of Puducherry while being official language of Yanam District. It also has an official language status in the state of [[Andhra Pradesh]].
4. '''[[Malayalam language|Malayalam]]''': Another official language of Puducherry, but used only within [[Mahé, India|Mahé]] (Malayalam district). So, more correctly, it is considered a regional official language of Pondicherry 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, {{Fact|date=June 2007}}
*'''[[Tamil language|Tamil]]''': 820,749 (In Pondicherry and Karaikal Districts)
*'''[[Malayalam]]''': 36,823 (In Mahe District only)
*'''[[Telugu people|Telugu]]''': 31,362 (In Pondicherry and Yanam Districts)
*'''[[French language|French]]''': Above 10,000
==Government & administration==
[[Image:Pondicherry Legislative Assembly.jpg|150px|thumb|right|Pondicherry Legislative Assembly]]
{{main|Pondicherry Legislative Assembly|Pondicherry Municipal Council}}
{{See also|Lieutenant Governor of Pondicherry|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 [[National Capital Territory of Delhi|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 [[Lieutenant Governors of Pondicherry|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 taxation|indirect]] category.
==Special Administration Status==
According to '''Traité de cession''' dated 1956, the [[Inde française|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 language|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 Fighters and Spiritualists, [[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]]'s novel ''A house in Pondicherry'' was likewise set there.
* In [[Roald Dahl]]'s ''[[Charlie and the Chocolate Factory]]'', Prince Pondicherry has [[Willy Wonka]] build him a castle made entirely of [[chocolate]], which quickly melts.
* In The second [[Sherlock Holmes]] novel, ''[[The Sign of Four]]'' by [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]], the family of a murder victim resides at Pondicherry Lodge.
* Some Novels of [[M. Mukundan]],Mahe former employee of French Embessy and famous Malayalam Writter .
==Economy==
===Macro-economic trend===
This is a chart of trend of gross state domestic product of Puducherry at market prices [http://mospi.nic.in/mospi_nad_main.htm estimated] by ''Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation'' with figures in millions of Indian Rupees.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! 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 ==
=== Places to visit ===
* [[Pondicherry Beach]]
* [[Auroville]]
* [[Aurobindo Ashram]]
* [[Chunnambar Boat House]]
* [[Bharathi Park]]
* [[Museum]]
* [[Romain Rolland Library]]
* [[Botanical Garden]]
* [[Anglo-French Textile Mills]]
* [[Pondicherry Museum]]
* [[French Institute of Pondicherry]]
=== Places of worship ===
==== Thevara Padal Petra Thiruthalangal ====
* Panchanatheeswarar Temple, Thiruvandaar Kovil (Vatukur), Pondicherry
* Arasili Naathar Temple, Ozhundiapattu (Arasili), 14 km from Puducherry (Special: Pradosham Worship)
* Maahaleswarar Temple, Irumbai, near Auroville, 10 km from Puducherry (Special: Lord Shiva came from the Broken Lingam)
* Tirumeniyazhagar Temple, Thiruvettakkudi, [[Karaikal]], Pondicherry
* Parvateeswarar Temple, Thiruthelicheri, [[Karaikal]], Pondicherry
* Yaazhmurinathar, Temple, Dharumapuram, [[Karaikal]], Pondicherry
* Darbaranyeswarar Temple, Thirunallar, [[Karaikal]], Pondicherry (Navagraha Sthalam for Saneeswaran - 5 km west of Karaikal)
* Airavateswarar Temple, Thirukkottaru, [[Karaikal]], Pondicherry
====Other Place of Worship====
* Manakula Vinayagar Temple
* Vedapureeswarar Temple
* Varadaraja Perumal Temple
* Kamakshi Amman Temple
* Thirukameswarar Temple, Villiyanur
* Moolanathaswamy Temple, Bahour
* Navagraha Temple (15 ft high Navagrahas)
* Panchavatee
* Sri Prithyingara Devi Temple
====Churches====
* Immaculate Church
* Sacred Heart Church
== 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 [[Unigauge|Project Unigauge]] from [[metre gauge]] to [[broad gauge]]. <ref> http://business.gov.in/investment_incentives/infrastructure_pc.php </ref>
=== 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.''
{| class="wikitable"
|- align="center" valign="bottom"
! width="137.25" Height="12.75" colspan="4"| ROADS
|-
! Height="12.75" valign="bottom" colspan="3"| Total Road Length (in Puducherry)
| valign="bottom" | 2552 km.
|-
! Height="12.75" valign="top" rowspan="2" | Road Length per 1000 km².
! align="center" valign="bottom" | Puducherry
! align="center" valign="bottom" | Tamil Nadu
! align="center" valign="bottom" | India
|-
| align="right" valign="bottom" | 4575
| align="right" valign="bottom" | 1572
| align="right" valign="bottom" | 663
|}
==== Classification of roads ====
{| class="wikitable"
! align="center" | Sl. No.
! align="center" | Type of Road
! align="center" | Length in
(km)
|-
| WIDTH="9%" align="center" |1
| WIDTH="73%" |<p style="margin-left: 5">
National
Highways
| WIDTH="18%" align="center" |
64.450
|-
| WIDTH="9%" align="center" |2
| WIDTH="73%" |<p style="margin-left: 5">
State Highways
| WIDTH="18%" align="center" |
49.304
|-
| WIDTH="9%" align="center" |3
| WIDTH="73%" |<p style="margin-left: 5">
District & Other
Roads
| WIDTH="18%" align="center" |
|-
| WIDTH="9%" align="center" |
| WIDTH="73%" align="right" |<p style="margin-right:10">
Puducherry -
173.384
| WIDTH="18%" align="center" |
|-
| WIDTH="9%" align="center" |
| WIDTH="73%" align="right" |<p style="margin-right:10">
[[Karaikal]] -
55.162
| WIDTH="18%" align="center" |
|-
| WIDTH="9%" align="center" |
| WIDTH="73%" align="right" |<p style="margin-right:10">
[[Mahé, India|Mahé]] - 19.622
| WIDTH="18%" align="center" |
|-
| WIDTH="9%" align="center" |
| WIDTH="73%" align="right" |<p style="margin-right:10">
[[Yanam]] - 26.460
| WIDTH="18%" align="center" |
|-
| WIDTH="9%" align="center" |
| WIDTH="73%" align="right" |<b><p style="margin-right:10">
274.628</b>
| WIDTH="18%" align="center" |
274.628
|-
| WIDTH="9%" align="center" |4
| WIDTH="73%" |<p style="margin-left: 5">
Rural Roads
| WIDTH="18%" align="center" |
|-
| WIDTH="9%" align="center" |
| WIDTH="73%" align="right" |<p style="margin-right:10">
Puducherry -
164.964
| WIDTH="18%" align="center" |
|-
| WIDTH="9%" align="center" |
| WIDTH="73%" align="right" |<p style="margin-right:10">
[[Karaikal]] -
83.470
| WIDTH="18%" align="center" |
|-
| WIDTH="9%" align="center" |
| WIDTH="73%" align="right" |<b><p style="margin-right:10">
248.434</b>
| WIDTH="18%" align="center" |
248.434
|-
| WIDTH="9%" align="center" |
| WIDTH="73%" |<b><p style="margin-left: 5">
Grand Total</b>
| WIDTH="18%" align="center" |'''636.816'''
|}
== See also ==
* [[Road Network in Puducherry District]]
* [[Road Network in Karaikal District]]
* [[Road Network in Yanam District]]
* [[Road Network in Mahe District]]
* [[Causes for Liberation of French colonies in India]]
* [[Municipal Administration in French India]]
* [[List of Chief Ministers of Pondicherry]]
* [[Pondicherry (Lok Sabha constituency)]]
* [[Pondicherry Municipal Council]]
* [[French East India Company]]
* [[Coup d'État de Yanaon]]
* [[French colonial empire]]
* [[French India]]
* [[Life of Pi]]
* [[JIPMER]]
* [[Pondicherry Engineering College]]
* [[Auroville]]
* [[Ariyankuppam]]
* [[Pondicherry science forum]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
{{commonscat}}
* [http://pondicherry.nic.in/ Official website of the Government of the Union Territory of Pondicherry]
* [http://lamaisonblanche.in/ Pondicherry - Accommodation Guesthouse Hotel Bed & Breakfast Rooms Chambres Maison D'Hotes Villa]
* [http://www.links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0362-8949(19500322)19%3A6%3C62%3ATFOFI%3E2.0.CO%3B2-%23 Future of French India, by Russel H. Fifield (Associate Professor of Political Science at University of Michigan]
* [http://www.pon.nic.in/open/regions/pondy/origin.htm Pondicherry - its Early Origins]
* [http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr98/fe0898/f1808986.html Freedom struggle in Pondicherry]
* [http://meaindia.nic.in/treatiesagreement/1956/chap133.htm Indian Ministry for External Affaires - 1956 Treaty of Cession]
* [http://asi.nic.in/index3.asp?sublink2id=24 Exploration Off Arikamedu by Archaeological Survey of India]
* [http://pondycentralexcise.gov.in/ Commissioner of Central Excise and Service Tax, Pondicherry, falling under Ministry of Finance of Government of India]
* [http://www.paper-boat.com/ Guesthouse in Pondicherry]
{{India}}
{{Puducherry}}
[[Category:Puducherry|*]]
[[Category:Coastal cities]]
[[Category:Indian Union Territory capitals]]
[[Category:States and territories of India]]
[[Category:Union Territories of India]]
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