N.Nandhivarman
General
Secretary Dravida Peravai
(Paper presented in the
SEMINAR ON INDIA AND FRANCE-PAST-PRESENT AND FUTURE organized by Center for
Nehru Studies and School of International Studies Pondicherry University,
sponsored by Government of Pondicherry and Indian Council for Historical
Research New Delhi held on 26-28 October 2004)
Introduction:
History is still shrouded in mystery.
Selectively people cling to certain cliché and try to define history as
they conceive it. The mindset of the general mass is tuned to listen to
one-sided views that put a lid on the truth. Parrots repeat what is taught, and
people conditioned to colonial reflexes, sing lullabies for their colonial
masters. It is true all humans and rulers are not bad, but to differentiate
between bad and good rule, a true historian has a unique role to play. We live
in an era of information technology transforming towards nano-technology era.
This era of global village brings to us many painful stories of the past, when
as bonded labors and slaves our people faced the wrath of colonialists.
Indian
born Kumud Merani had produced a documentary titled Girmit Ki kahani in
Hindi and Sweet Sorrow in English on the injustices meted out to Indian
labourers who were duped and sent to Fiji between 1879 and 1916. This
documentary had won the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union Award in the News and
Current Affairs category for the year 2004. Similar travails of Pondicherrians
taken to French colonies are yet to be compiled from archival materials. These
pages need not be kept in dark. What has happened has happened. We have no
prerogative to portray what we want to, instead of telling what really
happened. India obtained freedom at midnight, but Pondicherry at one fine dawn.
Yet there is no comparative study on Pondicherry’s decolonization in comparison
with other French colonies. Nor there exists a comparative study incorporating
Pondicherry’s freedom struggle with other freedom movements in former French
colonies. There is need for India centric comparative study on British,
Portuguese and French colonialism. These remarks are aimed at scholars and
Institutions of Pondicherry intending to stimulate and activate them to rectify
these lapses in our historical thought. Let us think about our past, present
with dreams for future.
Decolonization Drive of 20 th Century:
Decolonization
became the societal goal of the peoples under colonial regimes aspiring to
achieve self-determination. It reflected in the United Nations General
Assembly's proclamation on 14 December 1960 of the Declaration on the Granting
of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples - resolution 1514 (XV). The Declaration states that "the
subjection of peoples to alien subjugation, domination and exploitation
constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights, is contrary to the United
Nations Charter, and is an impediment to the promotion of world peace and
cooperation, and that steps should be taken to transfer, unconditionally, all
powers to the Trust and Non-Self-Governing Territories so that they might enjoy
complete freedom and independence". Also in 1960, the Assembly approved
resolution 1541 (XV), defining free association with an independent State,
integration into an independent State, or independence as the three legitimate
options of full self-government
Liberation of Colonies:
Let us have a look at colonies that attained
liberation. A British Colony and Protectorate Togo land united with the Gold
Coast in 1957 to form Ghana. French administered Togo land became independent as Togo in 1960.Italy
ruled Somaliland joined with British Somaliland protectorate in 1960 to form
Somalia. French colony of Cameroon’s
gained independence as Cameroon in 1960 while British ruled northern territory
of Cameroon’s joined Nigeria and southern territory with Cameroon in 1961.
British administered Tanganyika became independent in 1961. In 1964, Tanganyika
and the former protectorate of Zanzibar, which had become independent in 1963,
united as a single State under the name of the United Republic of Tanzania.
Belgian administered Ruanda-Urundi voted to divide into the two sovereign
States of Rwanda and Burundi in 1962. New Zealand ruled Western Samoa became
independent as Samoa in 1962. Australia administered Nauru attained
independence in 1968. Australian ruled New Guinea united with Papua and became
the independent State of Papua New Guinea in 1975. That is how the fresh air of
freedom was breathed by various colonies in the previous century. Now let us
have a look at the time- table of French colonies on their road to
independence.
French Colonies towards liberation:
Indo-China
gained Independence as Viet Nam (1945) Laos (1949) and Cambodia (1953). French
Establishments in Oceania & French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, St.Pierre
& Miquelon, Guadeloupe and dependencies underwent change of status in 1947.
Morocco in 1956 and French Guinea
obtained Independence, as Guinea in 1958.French Sudan became independent Mali
in 1960. Ivory Coast after Independence changed the name to Mauritania in1960.
French West Africa gained Independence as Dahomey (now Benin) in 1960.Niger
Colony became Niger and then gained Independence as Senegal in 1960. French Somaliland attained Independence as
Djibouti in 1977. Madagascar (1960) and Comoros (1975) gained independence. New
Hebrides is under Anglo-French Condominium. Tunisia attained independence
(1956), Cameroon (1960), Togo (1960), and Vanuatu (1980). Italy Somaliland
Trust Territory got Independence as Somalia (joined with British Somaliland) in
1960.
Others:
East Timor attained independence in May 2002 and joined the United Nations in
September 2002 as Timor Leste. In 1963, the Federation of Malaya became
Malaysia, following the admission to the new federation of Singapore, Sabah
(North Borneo) and Sarawak. Singapore became independent in 1965.Following the
ratification in 1964 of Articles of Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar, the
United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar was formed and later changed its
name to the United Republic of Tanzania.
Colonies of Today:
United Nations documents issued in 2002 lists
the following areas as ones still considered being without self-rule. That
means colonialism is yet to be completely wiped out. In AFRICA Western Sahara
is first in that list alphabetically. In ATLANTIC AND CARIBBEAN United Kingdom
administers Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland
Islands (Malvinas), Montserrat, St. Helena, Turks and Calicos Islands whereas
United States of America rules United States Virgin Islands. In EUROPE
Gibraltar is under the control of United Kingdom. In the PACIFIC AND INDIAN
OCEANS American Samoa and Guam are with United States. Pitcairn under United
Kingdom and Tokelau remain with New Zealand. Since on 2 December 1986,
the United Nations General Assembly determined that New Caledonia was a
Non-Self-Governing Territory, we can say that New Caledonia is the only colony
under France even in this century.
The Catalyst for Change: Decolonization British
style:
The
aftermath of Second World War, led to rapid disintegration of the European
empires. Colonialism downed its shutters. A salubrious breeze of freedom swept
colonialism. Colonies became independent states.
Decolonization
and the British Empire 1775-1997 by Professor
of Political Theory in University of Wales D. GEORGE BOYCE analyses the ideas and policies that
governed the British experience of decolonization. It shows how the British
political tradition, with its emphasis on experience over abstract theory, was
integral to the way in which the empire was regarded as being transformed
rather than lost. This was a significant aspect of the relatively painless
British loss of empire. It places the process of decolonization in its wider
context, tracing the twentieth-century domestic and international conditions
that hastened decolonization, and, through a close analysis of not only the
policy choices but also the language of British imperialism, it throws new
light on the British way of managing both the expansion and contraction of empire.
With India's declaration of independence it became apparent that it was only a
matter of time before Britain’s other colonies demanded their own independence.
By 1957 only two of Britain’s colonies in Africa had gained their independence
they were the Gold Coast and Sudan. The rest were to quickly receive their
independence between 1957 and 1964. The
characteristics of these independences were the methods with which they carried
out by the British. They followed the same plan in each colony, which was to
prepare the colony for self-rule by training people for the new positions
within government and in other sectors which the British settlers had dominated
in. This meant the new independent country would be able to support her. It
also meant that the likely hood of a power vacuum would be reduced after the
British left, opines a comparative study.
Decolonization French way:
France
was another great imperial power who decolonised after the Second World War
although her reasons and methods were quite different from Britain. Whereas the British realized the colonies
were beginning to become a burden the French believed they had to re-assert
their national prestige by keeping control of their colonies. This may explain
why the French experience of decolonisation was so different to Britain’s.
French decolonisation was bloody and bitter whereas Britains was quite peaceful
and quite painless. France fought two costly and bloody wars over her colonies.
The first of these was in Indo-China, which had been under French rule since
the 19th Century. During the Second World War Indo-China was invaded and
occupied by the Japanese. Vietminh led
by Ho Chi Minh fought a guerrilla war against the Japanese. At the end of the
Second World War the French intended to retake control of Indo-China but before
they could the Vietminh declared independence. Fighting broke out in 1946 and
continued for eight years before the French suffered a massive defeat at Dien
Bien Phu. This was the decisive point of the war with an armistice being signed
soon after. France had lost much in the war including 91,000 men and their
colony. France’s African Empire started to decolonise after the humiliating
defeat at Dien Bien Phu as riots spread across the French African states.
France realized she could not hold her empire together anymore and begun
decolonising. All the French African colonies were granted their independence
between 1956 and 1960 with the exception Algeria. Algeria held a unique place
within the French Empire as it had been formally integrated into France thus
making it not a colony but a part of France itself. An armed rebellion led by
the F.L.N. (Front d'Liberation National) in 1954 led to bloody civil war in
Algeria. In 1958 General de Gaulle was persuaded to come out of retirement to
end the conflict in Algeria. Charles De Gaulle realized that France could not
win the war and that it would be a major strain on the economy to continue it.
He begun talks for independence and he and the F.L.N. leader signed a
settlement in 1962.
French dream to colonize Pondicherry:
History
of French in India is a monumental work written by Colonel G.B.Malleson, which
narrates the events that lead to the founding of Pondicherry in 1674 to the
capture of that place in 1761. In the reign of Louis XII, in the year 1503, two
ships of the merchants of Rouen took to seas and were never heard thereof. This
marks the first French attempt to set foot on Indian soil. Though many had the
urge nothing concrete emerged. On June 1 1604 a company was established under
Kings letters patent, granting it exclusive trade for 15 years. This also
failed to take of due to faction feuds among the founders. 7 years later Louis
XIII tried again in vain to activate the company. During 1615 two merchants
sought transfer of the company to them, which was stiffly opposed by the
company. Hence as compromise formula the King created a coalition of both sides
and conferred on July 2, 1615 letters patent. The next year two ships set to
sail to India. Commodore de Nets was in charge of the big vessel and Captain
Antoine Beaulieu of the smaller vessel. The Dutch crew in Beaulieu's ship
obeying the diktats of their government left the vessel of Beaulieu. And
Beaulieu had to dispose the ship and join the vessel of Commodore de Nets. In
spite of all such travails the venture was profitable. So the company launched
3 more vessels on trip to India. Mont Morenci with 162 men, 22 guns with
450-ton capacity, L’Esperance with 117 men, 26 guns and 400-ton capacity,
L’Hermitage with 30 men, 8 guns and with 75-ton capacity, were placed under
Beaulieu’s chief command. In that trip the Dutch sank L’Hermitage. Next 20
years no further efforts to reach east was undertaken. In 1642 a new company La
Compagnie des Indes with Richelieu was launched but before ships could set to
sail he passed away. A resting place mid way to Indes became their passion. The
first French vessel to Madagascar reached its shores in summer of 1642.The
local people resisted French settlers. The company had to incur heavy losses in
combating local people and ultimately gave up its claims to Madagascar in 1672.
In 1664 French Compagnie des Indes with a capital of 15,000,000 livres was
formed. A charter by the Government granted the company exclusive rights for 50
years to trade with India with total exemption from taxation. Government also
agreed to reimburse all losses if any. They first went for Madagascar. On March
7, 1665 with four ships and 520 men. They changed its name to Isle Dauphin.
Earlier Portuguese had called it Saint Lawrence. The local revolt against
French occupation continued and culminated in the fierce massacre of almost all
within the walls of Fort Dauphine. These abortive attempts gradually led to
French setting foot on Indian soil and making it a colony of France.
Reason for India becoming a
destination:
Why
do all colonialists set their eye on India? It is needless here to narrate how
French obtained a foothold on Indian soil and how they later became rulers. It
is vital to know why India was colonized, be it by the British, French and the
Portuguese? The East India Company was founded in 1600 to sell British woolen
cloth to India. Their ships arrived in Surat in 1608 with vast quantities of
broadcloth but the trade soon faltered and died out. What changed their
fortunes was the discovery of cotton, which was completely unknown in the west,
says Ms. Crill who had coauthored a book Trade, Temple and Court: Indian
Textiles from Tapi Collections. Another author of the same book
Ms.Ruth Barnes states that Textile trade surfaces repeatedly in the social and
economic histories of these times. For centuries textiles were crucial currency
in the Indian Ocean trade. If you wanted a piece of the spice trade in the 14
th century, you did not have a chance unless you showed up in the Eastern
Indonesia with high quality textiles. Well these textile scholars have stated
one reason for India being a popular destination for colonialists. Colonialists
came to market their products but were drawn towards buying Indian fabrics. ?
Millions of Indian cotton arrived in England at that time, so much so that the
wool and linen weavers began to protest and a law prohibiting Indian textiles
was passed in 1700? Says Rosemary Crill of the V&A Museum, London in her
book.
Let
me quote verbatim the last rituals performed for decolonizing Pondicherry as
written in the book Decolonization of French India, since I do not want
to be drawn in controversies by writing a new version myself. The procedure
incorporated into the joint communiqué¬ which was simultaneously published
from New Delhi and Paris, ran as follows Desirous of reaching a final
settlement on the question of the French establishments in India, The
government of India and the Government of the French Republic through their
representatives in Delhi has engaged in negotiations. As a result of these
negotiations the two governments have agreement on the following procedure. All
elected members of the representative assembly and the Municipal Councils of
the establishments will be met at a Congress on October 18 in the settlement of
Pondicherry to consider the joint proposals of the two governments for a final
settlement of the future of the settlements and record their decision on these
proposals as an expression of the wishes of the people .An arê´te of the
Commissaire de la Pepublique was published on 11 October in the Journal
official of Pondicherry with a view to acquainting the people the conditions of
the consultation. The Pondicherry Government issued summons to the elected
municipal members of the south Indian settlements and the Representative
assembly to meet at Kizhur about 10 miles on the border of west of Pondicherry
on 18 October at 10 o’clock to decide the future of the French settlements in
India. The members of the four settlements whose election was valid up to 1 st
January 1954 had been asked to vote on that day either for the continuation of
French rule in these settlements or for merger of these settlements with the
Indian Union. The importance of the Congress and the necessity of the members
to attend the Congress were expressed in a circular, which was signed by the
Secretary General for French India and dispatched to the elected members
accompanied by the topographical map of the place where the congress was to be
held together with the admission card. There was a proposal to hold the
congress at Karaikal, but that was set aside. Kizhur, a tiny hamlet situated in
Indian Territory was finally chosen in order to avoid the disturbances,
which the presence of Goubert and Muthupillai might have provoked if the
congress had been held at Pondicherry. Balasubramanian, President of the
Representative Assembly acted as presiding officer of the Congress. Out of 178,
170 members voted overwhelmingly in favour of the merger with Indian Union and
8 voted against. The results were declared in the presence of Pierre Landy and
Kewal Singh. The period of suspense was over. The usual scene of
excitement tension and violence, which had tainted previous elections in French
India, was totally absent here in this hamlet. It was so to speak a parody of
consultation. France had to agree to this as a sop to satisfy her
constitutional requirements and India had to accept this verdict given by the
members of the municipal councils and representative assembly whose elections
she had protested as irregular.
The signing of the treaty at New Delhi
on 21 October followed this. The remaining 10 days witnessed the French India
authorities make hectic preparations for total withdrawal from Pondicherry and
Karaikal. As fixed earlier Escargueil left Pondicherry for France on 31 st
October handing over charge to Pierre Landy. The French national flag was
removed from the top of the Governors house in the evening of the same day. On
1 November of 1954 at 6.45 in the morning a document of transfer was signed
between Pierre Landy representing France and Kewal Singh, Indian Consul general
and Indian Commissioner designate in the official residence of the former. In
Karaikal too Boucheney aided by Duvauchelle, an Officer of the foreign
department who had recently arrived here, handed over power to the India
administration?
Immediately
after this the Indian national flag was unfurled over the government house to
the tumultuous ovation of thousands of people who had gathered there marking
the close of seven-year tortuous negotiations. Throughout the day there was
jubilation everywhere in Pondicherry, In Karaikal, in Mahe and in Yenam and the
rest of India in this hour of joy. As a result of the historic decision taken
at kizhur more than 3 lakh people rejoined their mother country India at the
dawn of 1 November thereby ending 240-year-old French rule on the four
settlements of South India. The people of India welcomed the residents of the
erstwhile French settlements into the larger fold of Indian citizenship. A part of India separated from the motherland
is coming back to us on its own freewill Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and
President Rajendra Prasad said we should be equal partners in a common endeavor
to work for the progress and prosperity of India. The congress of Kizhur
facilitated the dissolution of French colonial rule in the French pockets, but
French sovereignty over them continued legally till dejure transfer had taken
place in 1962.
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