OUR FAMILY IN PONDICHERRY SINCE 1860......

The Citadel of Saiva Siddhantha and Ceylonese Scholars

The Citadel of Saiva Siddhantha

 and Ceylonese Scholars

N.Nandhivarman

The French India had attracted steady stream of scholars, though the names of Aurobindo and Bharathiar are popular, still there remain many who have to come to light. The Ceylonese connections to Pondicherry and the scholars of Saiva Siddhantha who landed here in pursuit of knowledge is one field that has to be researched further. Srilanka was then known as Ceylon and from Jafna Pandit Thenkovai S.Kandiah Pillai landed in Pondicherry and edited a weekly on Saiva Siddhantha. “Vittagam” which means the mind of the seed brought out for 3 years from 30.11.1933 was priced “one anna” which carried the title in French along with Tamil. Apart from the philosophical editorials, which formed a major part of the 8 page weekly publication, there is much news about the socio political situation of those times.

The Assembly of French India known as Conseil General was inaugurated on 25.11.1933 around 4 PM in the Municipal buildings amidst huge attendance by people. The French Governor George Bourret in his inaugural speech lamented at the lack of adequate education to the children from 6 to 13 years and urged the members of the assembly to improve the infrastructure of school education.  He expressed grave concern over the total neglect of Tamils in learning their mother tongue and in imparting education to their children in Tamil. George Bourret stressed that Tamil medium of instruction must be made compulsorily and higher education in Tamil must be improved. He felt that degrees should be conferred on students of Tamil medium on par with those who learn French. He also stressed the need to encourage private educational institutions. “ The foresight of the French Governor is laudable and his advice is applicable even for present days” opines Dr.Ira.Thirumurugan of Tamil Development Action Group, a private initiative of Tamil scholars in the Union Territory.

After the French governor’s speech election to the new assembly members took place. Advocate Chellan Naicker was chosen President. Mr.Thiagaraja Pillai of Karaikal and Mr. Sadhu Charan Mukkerjee of Chandranagore were elected as Vice Presidents. Mr. Balasubramania Pillai, Advocate Perumal Naicker and Selvarasu Chettiar were chosen as Secretaries. Mr.Balasubramania Pillai, Mr. Thanaraja Pillai, Mr. Yubert de Rozario, Mr.Henry Gaeble, Mr. Gnanou Thiagou, Mr. Joseph Laporte, Mr. Ramachandra Naicker, Mr. Sambasivam Chettiar, Mr. Veera Pillai were chosen members of the Economic Committee. “ Vittagam” apart from detailing this historical event also places on record that a Report of the Commission on Colonies (Rapport de la commission coloniale) was tabled in the assembly by Mr. Joseph Laporte.

This journal propagated the Thirumoolar School of Yoga. Thirumoolar it was believed lived for 3000 years and wrote one poem every year, which is called as “Thirumoolam” These treatises were focus of scholarly debate of those days when people felt that yoga is a way to gain longer life on earth. English bard Mathew Arnold wrote the poem Scholar gypsy in which he said gypsies possessed the knowledge to live beyond 200 or 300 years. Saint Vallalar believed that human body could transform into a body of light and vanish in the air and get lost in the vacuum. “Vittagam” and its writers were of the view that with the body they can attain divinity and stated that it was the True Attainment of Salvation. “ Unmai Mukhthi Nilai ” written by Pandit Thenkovai S.Kandiah Pillai expounds this theory in detail. The journal Vittagam went to India (British), Burma and Ceylon. The annual subscription was rupees 3, while for Malaya, Singapore and Saigon the annual rate was Rupees 4. A letter from a Teacher of Saint Johns College Jafna dated 18.1.1934 the reader S.G.Arulanandha said “ Your articles are very stimulating of thought and action. I am a fervent Christian and you are to me interpreting truly the life of my lord and Master Jesus.” In every week from the letters to the editor published it becomes clear that this magazine left a deep imprint in Ceylon, Tamil Nadu, Malaya, Saigon and Burma.

 The publisher of this philosophical weekly Mr.R.Nagaratnam   was among the few nationalists who were with Aurobindo Ghosh in his initial years of the stay in Pondicherry. During the year 1923 the Inmates of Ashram as published by M.P.Pandit in the book “ Champaklal Treasures” are Rajangam, Tirupati, Khitish, Nolinda, Satyen, Kanai, Bejoy, Purani and Nagaratnam (a local devotee). Also in the picture are Punamchand, Champaben, Mrs.Kothandaraman, Mr.Kothandaraman, Champaklal, Moni, Amrita and Manmohan. Late R.Nagaratnam Pillai born in 9.05.1899 and passed away on 26.11.1992 in his 93 rd year. The nationalist who went on secret missions to bring freedom fighters to Pondicherry and who offered asylum in his house was detained by the British Police at Tindivanam and was in prison for 15 days from 25.12.1925.

He headed an agency R.Nagarathinam Pillai and Brother  importing Austin and Ford Cars in French India. Also he was a Correspondent for Illustrated Weekly of India in French India and agent for Dinamani and Indian Express. Vittagam Press that brought out many books from its premises situated at2 & 4 Ambalathadum Iyer Madam Street. 

Those houses had been a place frequented by Mahakavi Bharathiar, Lalalajpat Rai, Chitaranjan Das, V.V.S.Iyer, Neelakanta Brahmachari, Suthanandha Bharathiar, Maraimalai Adigal and many scholars of Saiva Siddantha School.“The Saivite school and scholars of that ideology with various “siddhar peedams” around Pondicherry are fresh areas for further research” opines Dr.N.Sengamala Thayar, the daughter of R.Nagaratnam currently in charge of Bharathiar Museum at Pondicherry.

Courtesy : New Indian Express : 27.11.2004 

SRI AUROBINDO ASHRAM TRUST DEED

SRI AUROBINDO ASHRAM TRUST DEED

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS  SHALL COME

I,  Mirra Alfassa  of  Sri Aurobindo Ashram, at Pondicherry, send Greetings:

          WHEREAS Sri Aurobindo Ashram at Pondicherry is an institution and a centre of practice for evolution of a kind and form of life which would in the end be moved by a high spiritual consciousness and embody a greater life of the Spirit;

AND WHEREAS Sri Aurobindo Ashram is the home of persons who are the followers and disciples of Sri Aurobindo having faith in his philosophy and yoga;

AND WHEREAS Sri Aurobindo Ashram had been established and is being maintained, under the benign  care  and guidance  of  The Mother, for the exclusive purpose of helping the devotees towards their educational and spiritual upliftment in conformity with the ideal and teaching of  Sri Aurobindo;

AND WHEREAS  a residential university has been opened by The Mother under the aegis of the said Ashram, known as Sri Aurobindo International University Centre for the purpose of imparting such education and training to the students of the said university as will ensure and bring about an all-round mental development and which is entirely based upon the ideal and teachings of Sri Aurobindo;

AND WHEREAS Sri Aurobindo made over all his books, periodicals, writings and manuscripts, published or unpublished and the copyright of and in the same and the sale proceeds thereof for the sole benefit and use of the disciples, devotees and inmates of the said Ashram under the guidance of The Mother;

AND WHEREAS Sri Aurobindo expressed his desire that all his books, periodicals, manuscripts and writings, published or unpublished, and the copyright of and in the same and the sale proceeds thereof shall be held for the exclusive use and benefit of the disciples, devotees and inmates of the Ashram in such manner as The Mother in her sole and absolute discretion shall direct;

AND WHEREAS during the lifetime of Sri Aurobindo he actually permitted the use of the said books, periodicals, manuscripts and writings and the sale proceeds therefrom to be spent and utilised for the benefit of the disciples, devotees and inmates of the said Ashram and to meet a portion of the benefit of the disciples, devotees and inmates of the said Ashram and to meet a portion of the expenses necessary for the maintenance of the said Ashram and the educational and other institutions in connection therewith;

AND WHEREAS  out of the voluntary donations and contributions received from time to time from the numerous disciples, devotees and followers of Sri Aurobindo and         The Mother for the purpose and benefit of the inmates and devotees of Sri Aurobindo Ashram, The Mother, with the knowledge and concurrence of Sri Aurobindo has all along been defraying the expenses of the said Ashram and has from time to time acquired by purchase, lease or otherwise, or caused to be acquired several immovable properties at Pondicherry and elsewhere either in the name of Sri Aurobindo or The Mother for the exclusive purpose, use and benefit of the said Ashram and its various activities as is hereinbefore recited;

AND WHEREAS  the immovable properties purchased as aforesaid and fully set forth and described in the schedule hereunder written have all along been in use for the residence of the inmates of Sri Aurobindo Ashram and for various other purposes, industries and undertakings connected with the Ashram and for exclusive benefit and use of the disciples, devotees and inmates of the said Ashram;

AND WHEREAS  the movables brought into all or any of the premises mentioned in the schedule hereunder written were also acquired out of the moneys received by way of voluntary donations and contributions, as aforesaid, and belong to the Ashram and are being held by The Mother in Trust for the exclusive benefit of the Ashram and the disciples and devotees of Sri Aurobindo residing therein;

AND WHEREAS  The Mother ( and Sri Aurobindo up to the date of his passing) have all along been in possession of all the immovable properties set forth and described in the schedule hereunder written and all other chattels and movables, articles, goods, effects, including all fixtures which are now in use at the various departments of the Ashram, in Trust, for the use and benefit of the disciples, devotees and inmates of Sri Aurobindo Ashram and Sri Aurobindo International University Centre;

AND WHEREAS The Mother who has all along been in sole and complete charge and management of the said Ashram and has been directing its various activities  is now desirous of setting up and creating a board of Trustees for the administration and management of the said Ashram and Sri Aurobindo International University Centre and all the other institution or institutions that may hereafter be formed by The Mother or her nominee in furtherance of the Ideal of  Sri Aurobindo as is hereinbefore recited AND WHEREAS The Mother had previously executed a document containing a declaration of Trust which could bot be completed by registration;

AND WHEREAS  The Mother is now seized and possessed of or otherwise well and sufficiently entitled to the said several land tenement, hereditament and premises situate and lying at Pondicherry as also within the Union of India, particularly described in the schedule hereunder written , free from all encumbrances, upon the Trust and subject to and with powers and provisions hereinafter contained.

NOW THESE PRESENTS WITNESS that it is hereby declared as follows:

1.           The  Mother had all along held and stood possessed of and The Mother, Her successors and assigns and the other Trustees for the time being (all of whom are hereinafter included in the expression Trustee or Trustees) shall at all times hereafter hold and stand possessed of, Firstly, All those several lands, tenements, hereditaments and premises situate and lying at Pondicherry as also within the Indian Union and particularly set forth and described in the schedule hereunder written, And, Secondly, All those books, publications, journals and other writings now kept and lying at Sri Aurobindo Ashram or belonging to the Ashram, And, Thirdly, All those printing machines, types and other parts and accessories thereof in the Ashram Press, the plants, lathes, machines, motors, pumps, tools, instruments, furniture, fixtures, stationeries and other movables, chattels and effects belong to or used in connection with the schools, university, gymnasium, sports, music, painting, arts, sciences, weaving, bakery, carpentry, workshops, factories, mills, engineering and all other departments and activities of the said Ashram, And, Fourthly, All those moneys in cash and in Banks and all securities therefore belonging to the said Ashram, and all donations and contributions and gifts hereafter to be received by the Trustees (all of which properties are hereafter collectively referred to as 'The Trust Properties') upon Trust to use, hold and apply the same in establishing and maintaining in perpetuity in accordance with these presents and with and subject to the powers and provisions hereinafter contained the said Sri Aurobindo Ashram and all its activities and departments and Sri Aurobindo International University Centre on the basis of the ideal and teachings of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother, as hereinbefore recited and for the spiritual education and enlightenment of mankind generally on the ideal and philosophy of Sri Aurobindo.

2.           The Trustees or  Trustee for the time being shall have the absolute management and entire control of the trust properties of Sri Aurobindo Ashram and may from time to time make, rescind and alter such regulations  (not being inconsistent with these presents or the aims and objects of the Ashram) as they or he may think fit with respect to the purpose for which, the manner in which, the persons by whom, the terms and conditions on which the said Ashram and its various departments and activities and the said university and the trust properties shall be conducted, managed, used, utilised and otherwise as the Trustees or Trustee shall think necessary for the purposes of these presents or for the execution of the Trust.

3.           The Trustees or Trustee may pay out of the Trust fund all rents, rates, taxes, costs of insurance, repairs and other outgoings at any time payable in respect of the land, tenement, hereditament and premises and all expenses of maintaining          Sri Aurobindo Ashram and all its activities and departments and Sri Aurobindo International University Centre and all expenses for purchasing the requirements of the said Ashram and University including those that my be necessary for the various activities of the Ashram and may also pay the wages and salaries of all employees and all other expenses of an incidental to the maintenance and improvement of the Ashram and its activities and departments and the university.

4.           The  Trustee or Trustees shall be at liberty at any time to sell or let out any house, land, tenement, hereditament and premises and any furniture, timber, fixtures or fittings, books and other movable properties, subject to the Trust, with power to buy in or resell the same, and in case of such sale or lease, all or any Trustees or Trustee or other person in whom the trust properties or any of them or any part thereof may for the time being be vested shall execute and register and do all such deeds and acts for the purpose of carrying such sale or lease into effect, and all moneys to arise from such sale or lease shall be deemed to be part of the Trust property.

5.           In addition to the above powers and authorities  conferred  on the Trustees and without prejudice to the same, the Trustees shall have the following powers:

a)   To use, occupy and employ or to permit the use, occupation, employment in perpetuity all or any of the trust properties in such manner and for such purposes and times as they shall consider beneficial or conducive to the purposes and interest of the said Ashram  and the inmates thereof and the various activities and departments and the said university and the students thereof and all other institutions and departments that my be started or formed hereafter.

b)   To acquire by purchase, lease or otherwise any land, house, tenements, hereditaments  and premises, as the Trustees may deem fit and to erect and build, pull down and rebuild, enlarge, improve or alter from time to time and at any time any buildings or any part thereof as the Trustees may think desirable or expedient for the purposes of the Ashram and its university.

c)   To  enter into any contract and to rescind and vary all such contracts and to do all such acts, deeds and things as they may consider expedient for or in relation to any of the trust properties and for the purposes of the said Ashram and its various activities and departments and its university.

d)   To open accounts or account in such bank or banks as the Trustees may think fit and to determine who shall operate such account  or accounts and sign, make endorse and negotiate cheques, bills of exchange, bills of lading and other negotiable instruments.

e)   To receive and accept all gifts and grants of properties, movable or immovable, and all donations and contributions and all other incomings and to hold the same in Trust for the purposes, use and benefit of the inmates of the said Ashram and the University and its students as part of the Trust properties.

f)     To make and give receipts, releases and other discharges for moneys or other properties received by the Trustees.

g)   To invest and deal with any of the moneys of the Trust not immediately required, upon such securities as are provided in the Trust Act and form time to time to vary or realise such investments.

6.           The Mother shall be the permanent President of the board of Trustees and She, as such President, shall have full and supreme control over the Trust Fund and open and operate all accounts in banks and other institutions and sign cheques and bills of exchange or other negotiable instruments and make all such disbursements and expenses for and on account of the said Ashram and University and all the other departments connected therewith as She may think proper.

7.           The Mother shall also, in Her absolute discretion, be entitled to allow any persons or persons to stay in the Ashram as a permanent inmate thereof or otherwise, and/or withdraw Her permission from any person or persons, already resident in the Ashram, to continue their further stay therein, in any capacity whatsoever, and Her decision in this respect shall be final.

8.           All or any of the powers vested in or exercisable by the Trustees or Trustee, under these presents, shall so long as there shall not be less than three Trustees, be capable of being performed or exercised by a majority of the Trustees for the time being.  Provided Always that in case of any difference of opinion on any matter or decision, the opinion of the Mother shall prevail and shall be binding on the board or Trustees.

9.           The Mother shall appoint such number of Trustees as She may, in Her absolute discretion, think  fit  and proper and shall, if She thinks proper, vest the trust properties or any of them in the new Trustees or Trustee.  If  and whenever the number of trustees shall be reduced below the number of Five, The Mother, in Her absolute discretion, shall appoint any other person or persons as Trustees with a view to make up the total number of Trustees to Five, and in case of Her retirement, for any reason whatsoever, the continuing Trustees shall appoint such number of new Trustees as shall be required to make up the total number of Trustees to Five.

  

          Registered on 7^th October 1955 in the Sub-Registrar's Office, Vanur (Cuddalore Dt.) as No. 1823 of 1955 of Book I, Volume 402, pages 273 to 287 (only as regards that portion of the property situate in Perambai Village which lies within the area where the Registration Act is applicable).

Registered at Pondicherry on 31^st March 1964

          R.V.219 Fo. 13 No. 682

Transcrit a la conservation des hypotheques de Pondicherry le 25 Mai 1964, R.V.319 No.22

 [ As historian of Puducherry, for other historians to know I had spoken for 100 weeks in Televisions and written in English and Tamil dailies on the Historical events of India, Latin America, and Tamil Diaspora. One of the world famous institutions exist in Pondicherry and its objectives as visualised by its Founder, The Mother of Pondicherry is placed here for historical purposes.. Nandhivarman]

LIVING LEGEND HISTORIAN JEAN DELOCHE WHOM LIVING HISTORIANS OF TAMILNADU ARE NOT AWARE

FRENCH CITIZENS IN PONDICHERRY

FRENCH AND FRENCH CITIZENS IN INDIA

 PRESENT STATUS

N.Nandhivarman 

 The colonial rule created a new class of citizens, Indian born yet French citizens by option. These Indians have roots in Pondicherry but have their work and homes in France. For those left in the soil of Pondicherry France has constitutional arrangements to look after the interests of Indian born French citizens. This arrangement is unique and deserves close appraisal. The notification issued by the Rastrapathi Bhavan few years ago had stated that hereafter the Ministry of Non Resident Indians will be named as Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in English and Pravasi Bharatiya Karya Mantralaya in Hindi which has come into operation now. But within our country we have residing Non Resident French citizens but who are Indians by birth but French citizens by option. It will be interesting to compare with what French does for Overseas French affairs. When French left their former colonies, they left large sections that opted to become French citizens. There are more than 20 million French citizens living abroad in various former French colonies including Pondicherry, which is a Union Territory under Indian Union. 

One hundred and fifty five delegates are elected by direct universal suffrage by the French communities abroad for a period of 6 years and this body is presided by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France.  French citizens in America elect 32 delegates and from Africa 47 seats thus the total of A series of constituencies is 79. In B series there are 76 seats and the break up is 52 seats from Europe and from Asia-Oceania and the Orient 24. Within these 24 seats two are chosen from Pondicherry. Half of the Electoral College is renewed every 3rd year. All former colonies are divided into 52 electoral districts, with one or more delegates per district. A country may have several electoral districts, just as an electoral district may cover several countries. French people residing abroad through their 155 representatives elect twelve Senators to French Parliament. They get elected one-third at a time for 8 years in 2004 and for 7 years in 2007 and for 6 years from 2010

The Constitution of 27 October 1946 (IVth Republic) stipulated that the new Parliament would comprise a National Assembly and a "Council of the Republic" (as the Senate was called until 1958) within which "the French of the Exterior" would be represented. This may be like our lower and upper houses in Parliament. The National Assembly pondered and decided how to effect this representation. It decreed, in a resolution dated 13 December 1946, that three "Councillor of the Republic" seats (out of 320) would go to personalities representing Non Resident French citizens living in Europe, America and Asia-Oceania-Orient respectively.

 For more than two decade the following associations were looking after the interests of Non Resident French citizens in Paris. They are the Union of French Chambers of Commerce Abroad, the French Overseas Teachers Association, the Non-Resident French War Veterans Federation, and the Overseas French Union (Union des Franç¡©s de l?é´²anger, UFE), founded in 1927. These four bodies mooted a suggestion for creation of a "high council" by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The then Prime Minister, Robert Schuman, and his Foreign Minister, Georges Bidault signed a Decree setting up the High Council for French People residing abroad. On 7 July 1948. The first High Council was composed of 55 members: 8 ex officio members (the three Senator-Councilors of the Republic, the president and director of the UFE, the presidents of the Chambers of Commerce, of the Teachers Association and of the War Veterans Federation, 42 elected officials, and 5 members nominated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” The first CSFE elections of 1950 were held in seventy countries of Europe, America, Asia and Oceania, according to a protocol defined in a Ministerial Decree dated 10 December 1949 and signed by Robert Schuman.

Article 24 of the Constitution of 25 September 1958 states, "French nationals settled outside France should be represented in the Senate." Two Executive Orders were issued, on 15 November 1958 and 4 February 1959 respectively, for organizing this representation and providing the CSFE with new status. The CSFE, while retaining its advisory role, became the sole Electoral College for electing Senators from abroad.  Their numbers   increased from three to six, two representing Europe and America, one representing Asia-Oceania and three representing Africa. It was thus divided into three sections for the Senatorial elections of 23 April 1959. The CSFE had 84 elected members   but it became clear that Europe and America were under-represented in comparison with Africa.  The number of Senators was therefore brought up to nine for 1962 elections. After the creation of the Democratic Association of French Citizens Abroad (Association Dé­¯cratique des Franç¡©s à ¬? Etranger - ADFE) in 1980, the CSFE was reconstituted in 1982. The Act of 7 June 1982 paved way for the election by universal suffrage of Delegates to the CSFE, which (with the exception of twenty-one members chosen for their competence but not having Senatorial voting rights) was no longer a body of appointed personalities. And the election of twelve Senators thereafter is only by the elected members of the CSFE. The Minister of Foreign Affairs defines the objectives and priorities of the assembly chaired by him. The Senators place before the Senate, the National Assembly and the Economic and Social Council the propositions, motions, resolutions and wishes expressed by their electors.

The twelve Senators, ex officio members of the AFE, can introduce Bills or legislative amendments reflecting the hopes and needs of French people living aroundtheworld. The French Minister of Foreign Affairs on the basis of their particular qualifications designates the appointed councilors. The members of the Council may form political groups.  The college of Vice-Presidents (or conference of Vice-Presidents) enacts the work of the Council and reports back to the President. The plenary assembly, attended by the ex officio members, the appointed members and the elected members, meets once a year in Paris at the beginning of September.  

Members are divided among specialized committees, which prepare reports for submission to the plenary assembly.  

 The AFE exercises real political authority at the moment when Senators representing French people abroad are elected. Elected AFE members can sponsor a candidate for the French presidential elections. The AFE is "called upon to give the Cabinet opinions on matters and projects of concern to French People residing abroad, and on developing France’s presence abroad". They are not prior opinions, however. The AFE could rather be said to fulfill the role of a specialized Economic and Social Council. The Cabinet may consult it, or it may intervene at its own initiative. AFE members, as elected representatives of the various French communities abroad, are concerned to defend the interests of French People residing abroad. They study matters relating to the education of French people abroad, their rights, their social situation, and their economic and taxation problems. The AFE may use background studies to inform the French authorities on specific problems (education, law, social affairs, foreign trade, taxation, etc) affecting the interests of French People residing abroad.

 This French experience is novel and it must be studied by the Government of India to evolve novel methods to solve the issues that haunt the Overseas Indians and the newly formed Ministry must emulate the representative system followed by France. British left India satisfied with getting 2 nominated M.P Seats in the Loksabha for Anglo-Indians. France did not plead for seats in the legislature for Franco-Indians. It worked out the above stated arrangements to manage the Indian born French nationals. From Fiji to Srilanka people of Indian origin are there. Will it be advisable if a similar arrangement is made for them under the aegis of the Ministry of Overseas Affairs? Union Territory Act has provision for 3 nominated members but it should be done according to the procedure adopted for Rajyasabha nominations i.e.: educated and social activists alone be nominated. That is another story.

Problems galore left by colonial legacy:

Colonial policy had a couple of goals: (1) to control the supply of valuable raw materials, such as minerals, petrol, wood, plantation crops such as rubber, sugar, pepper, cotton etc., (2) to secure a market for the industrial exports of the colonizing country, (3) country to settle in for the colonizing country's emigrating population, (4) strategic importance. Let us have a look at the problems left over by the colonial legacy. In the colonies, decades, in some countries centuries of colonial rule had resulted in major changes. In many cases, the borders of the colonies had been unilaterally drawn by Colonial powers with little regard for ethnicity and history. The border dispute India has with its neighbours is a left over of the colonial legacy. The contiguity of Pondicherry is missing and the enclave territories separated by miles scattered as dots remain in Indian map, which is also an issue of the colonial legacy and poses problem for gaining statehood to be on par with other Indian states. The infrastructure established by the colonial administration served mainly the interests of the colonial administration. There are many fields that warrant a study. More information may be in French and their archives. It is high time our scholars scan all such information to provide an in-depth study of Pondicherry's colonization and decolonization.

While such study into past is also needed, there is greater need to study how decolorized nations have faced the challenges in the post-colonial era. We in India are still facing the issues left by the colonial legacy. Let us see the experience of Singapore and Malaysia and the issues, which will be of importance too from our standpoint. Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore stated once that empires never last forever, that either the master and subject races finally merged to a unified society or the empire ends with subject races clashes violently and finally emerging as separate nation and entity. Ironically, his statement can equally be applied to the independent country of Malaysia where race and racial issues are still a sensitive and election issue. Ethnocentrism was and is still not something that can ever be stamped out.

The Kingdom at a Crossroads written by Marijke van der Meer tells the story of Surinam. In the late 18th century the British swapped their South American colony now known as Surinam for Manhattan, then controlled by The Netherlands. For many years the Dutch reckoned they had the better of the of the deal, after all the British lost Manhattan quite quickly, while Surinam only gained its independence in on November 25 1975.

Professor Oostindie opines that there was not enough time to find solutions to many of Surinam's long-standing issues. "The Dutch government did whatever was necessary to accomplish independence," he says, "basically this was done by not solving several problems such as the border dispute with Guyana. They offered more development aid than had been conceived of before and they said that all Surinamers, even five years after independence, would be eligible for Dutch nationality, stimulating an exodus to The Netherlands. Today there are just over 400,000 people in Surinam but there are 300,000 people of Surinamese descent in The Netherlands. The whole demographic growth of this nation has been in The Netherlands rather than Surinam. The offer of French citizenship to people of Pondicherry origin by the French created a similar exodus, which needs a comparative study.

Reports from a wild country: Ethics of Decolonisation by Deborah Bird Rose explores some of Australia’s major ethical challenges. Written in the midst of rapid social and environmental change and in a time of uncertainty and division, it offers powerful stories and arguments for ethical choice and commitment. The focus is on reconciliation between Indigenous and Settler? Peoples, and with nature.

The above stated problems are just examples and lot remains to be studied about the postcolonial problems left over of the colonial legacies in all former colonies

.

Recolonisation and Neocolonialism:

Colonization and decolonization could be understood easily as that process is over and a post mortem is possible. But what about recolonization? This word entered the political discourse in the aftermath of Iraqi invasion by America. America of the 20 th century was not in favour of colonization. But in 21 st century doubts over its moves aimed at recolonization exists in peoples mind. Neo colonialism needs a fresh study.  Now we are one in India, and we cannot think Pondicherry in isolation from rest of India and its burning issues. 

We live in an area of free markets. You should remember that the drive to market their products and purchase our raw materials only opened the doors to colonial rule few centuries before. History is repeating in a different form. The export and import of toxic wastes justified in the name of recycling is now one of the biggest threats to global environment. The import of toxic wastes by Third World countries is cause of grave concern. 

Take for example the Ship Building Yard at Alang in Gujarat.350 ships are scrapped in India every year. According to Central Pollution Control Board 12,428 metric tons of hazardous and non hazardous waste is produced in Alang, which seriously affects soil, water and air

.

Dr.Wishwas Rane of All India Drug Action had brought out a comprehensive guide called Banned and Banable Drugs. That guide lists out 23 out of 80 top selling drugs as irrational and hazardous. While our country becomes dumping ground for hazardous pills banned in West, Indian Council for Medical Research has clearly established that a herbal product Vijaysar obtained from a bark of a tree Pterocarpus marsupium helps control blood glucose levels, yet it has to take off and enter the markets. Neocolonialism rules the roost, and we fail to resist recolonization by west, which is trying to capture our medical market.

You may be aware that the Suez Canal (1869) and Panama Canal (1915) Sethu Samudram Canal (1860) and Tenth Degree Canal have been mooted to create short navigational routes to bring prosperity to their respective regions and countries. The French initiative to build Siene_Norde Canal is an example for the keen interest evinced by developing countries to promote trade and overall development. 

You must go back to the pages of history to know that Thailand then known, as Siam is an enemy country of the British and an ally of the Japan during the World War II. On the conclusion of the Second World War II, one of the last secretive acts performed by the colonial Government of India was the signing of a Peace Treaty with Siam (Thailand). A Peace Treaty between her Majesty’s Government and the Government of India on one hand and the Kingdom of Siam on the other, on January 1, 1946 at the Government House Singapore. The signatories were for the Britain Mr. Moberly Dening, Political Adviser to Lord Louis Mount batten, for Government of India Mr.M.S.Aney and for Siam (now Thailand) Prince Viwat Anajai Jaiyant, Lt.General Phya Abhai Songgram and Nai Serm Vinichayakul. This treaty contains 24 articles. Out of this Article 7 assumes importance in the context of this letter. 

Article 7: Siam undertakes to construct no canal linking the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Siam (i.e. across the Kra Isthmus) without British consent. (Keesing's Contemporary Archives 1946-48 Vol VI, p 7695). This article had done great havoc to Indian shipping costing our nation billions of extra money by way of fuel imports, in view of shelving of the Tenth Degree Canal project with the imposition of a condition in this Peace Treaty. It has also blocked the economic prosperity of Thailand and held up the development process by half a century and more. 

Government of India and Government of Thailand must look into the unfavorable conditions imposed by a colonial rule, that too at the threshold of a defeat in Second World War II on Thailand, an ally of Japan. It is in the interests of India and Thailand that a Canal be cut across the Isthmus of Kra where the isthmus narrows to just 75 miles and to develop this canal vigorously so that a detour of 1500 nautical miles down the Malayan Coast via the Straits of Malacca and up the Gulf of Thailand in the South China Sea is avoided. The proposed Tenth Degree Canal will be an extension of the Tenth Degree channel in between Andaman and Nicobar islands. The opening of Tenth Degree canal will result is saving millions of tons of fuel foe world shipping. The Tenth Degree canal reduces the importance of other major canals of the world namely Suez Canal and Panama Canal. The Tenth Degree Canal would develop Andaman & Nicobar Islands and bring prosperity to its economy.

 But instead of thinking on these lines to develop Andaman Nicobar islands, the colonial mentality makes us think of bartering away 23 remote Lakshadeep and Andaman islands to foreigners. In Kerala people had to resist moves to hand over rivers to multinationals. This how our Moghul rulers, Sultans, Nawabs, Nayaks and other Indian kings opened the doors to colonialism in yesteryears. Let not our soil become a breeding ground for neocolonialism. Let us not welcome recolonisation.