VIETNAMESE CONNECTIONS OF PONDICHERRY AND NETHAJI

NETHAJI’S VIETNAMESE CONNECTIONS

 N.Nandhivarman General Secretary Dravida Peravai

 The French connection to Puducherry is well known and wherever French flag went along with it the Pudicherry connectivity became a regular feature. Saigon became second home to many Puducherrians following that rule. “In August 1858, a French squadron, which included a few Spanish warships attacked the fortress of Danang that covered the road to Hue, the imperial capital. A year later, the squadron captured Saigon. Though their military superiority was undisputable the invaders failed to force Vietnamese to its knees. Vietnamese historians compare the French colonialists to silkworms who consumed the mulberry leaf little by little. Not until 1883, all of 25 years later did the imperial court of Saigon sign an unequal treaty acknowledging French supremacy “ writes Yevgeny Kobelev in a book on Ho Chi Minh.

  While French armies, which includes Puducherrians, struggled to gain foothold in Vietnam the Nattukottai Chettiars from Tamil Nadu went there in search of business opportunities and Puducherrians went to take care of state administration. Dharmanathan Purushanthi of Puducherry went in 1870 and his urge to stand on his own made him bid adieu to administrative jobs. He ventured into business on the lines of Chettiars. He established a soda factory and owned a liquor shop near harbour. His success there reached Puducherry and his brother Kannusamy Purushanthi sent his son Savarikannu Purushanthi to Saigon. Savarikkannu Purushanthi became a moneychanger and real estate owner, minted money and came back to Puducherry as the most prosperous citizen. At that time prime property close to RajNiwas came in for auction and all the rich had an eye on that but Savarikkannu Purushanthi won the auction. Thus a job seeker made money in Indo China and brought properties in his native soil.

Savarikannu Purushanthi 1910

 The Bank of Indo China too functioned in Puducherry in the place of current United Commercial Bank till Puducherry's independence. Thus Puducherry and Indo China connections led to cross country marriages. This resulted in the growth of Vietnamese restaurants even now we see in Puducherry. Puducherrians owned properties here as well as there. Savarikannu Purushanthi indulged in breeding race horses, which earned him fame in Vietnam. While the earlier Purushanthi’s were not highly educated in spite of their monetary success they did not have any political vision. But Savarikannu Purushanthi’s brother son Leon Purushanthi was a French graduate and he meticulously built his reputation as banker and at same time started airing his views for public consumption. It was a time when Mahatma Gandhi had launched his civil disobedience movement in India. Most of the job seekers from Puducherry have accepted French colonialism with reverence, but Gandhiji’s movement made Purushanthi sit up and watch colonial interests and intrigues. He resigned from government service and started fully concentrating on business. His writings started appearing in French magazines and newspapers of Indo China. He was distressed to note at the inequality shown towards Indians because of their dress. He strongly felt that modern dress is not harmful and advocated all should change from dhotis to pants which is convenient to wear and even wrote letters to Mahatma Gandhi on the subject.

Leon Purushanthi in Saigon 1930

 Leon Purushanthi was against caste system and from Indo China he could appreciate the self-respect movement of Periyar E.V.Ramasamy, which made him, write 5 articles in French magazines yet to become known here. Though he was in Christianity, all through his life in Saigon he had closely associated with Tamil Muslims association of Saigon. He frequented Hindu temples more than the church. Leon Purushanthi is a French citizen and most of the French citizens till date have never participated in Indian or French Indian freedom struggle. They were satisfied with Liberty-Equality-Fraternity under the French flag. In Saigon though most were of this line of thinking Leon Purushathi stands apart showing keen interest and involvement in India’s freedom struggle. The rise of Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose and his Indian National army attracted the freedom loving Purushanthi. 

While Nethaji was taken in streets of Saigon during Japanese occupation Leon Purushanthi greeted him by presenting gold kasumaalai, which adored his wife’s neck till that time. Indian Independence League of Nethaji was looking for an office space and Leon Purushanthi willingly offered his palatial house in Saigon for that purpose. His house 76 Rue Paul Blanchy at Saigon became the Secretariat of Nethaji’s Indian Independence League, a news about this appeared in Azad Hind magazine too. His support to Indian independence particularly for Nethaji was not to the liking of the French; mostly the supporters of Marshal Pertain who were ruling the French controlled Saigon at that time. They were furious with Purushanthi and waiting for time to teach him a lesson. Unfortunately the World War II ended in victory to the opposite side. Japan lost and along with it Nethaji too lost. Nethaji recruited lot of Puducherrians in his Indian National army. These aspects and the support given by freedom lovers like Leon Purushanthi have become forgotten facts with the failures that embraced their struggles.

 When French regained power in Saigon they picked up Leon Purushanthi from his house and imprisoned him. They tortured him like anything else and he became mentally retarded due to the cruelty inflicted upon him. Leon Purushanthi born on May 1 of 1901 within 45 years reached his glory and thereafter till he breathed last in 1968 he lived having lost his mental equilibrium. Life in Saigon became miserable with his properties being confiscated. Leon Purushanthi returned to Puducherry and lived in his house next to Raj Niwas. He used to visit Manakula Vinayagar temple and go around the park not conscious that India and Puducherry had gained independence. His sacrifices for the cause of the country still had not won any recognition. “ It is high time a postal stamp be brought out on Leon Purushanthi in remembrance of him and many Puducherrians who perished in the Indian National Army of Nethaji” said A.Ramasamy former Vice Chancellor of Alagappa University who had written the “History of Pondicherry”. Purushanthi’s descendent J.B.P.More himself a historian and let us hope he writes about Vietnam connections to Puducherry.

 

Courtesy : NEW INDIAN EXPRESS ; 6.8.2005

NETHAJI’S VIETNAMESE CONNECTIONS

NETHAJI’S VIETNAMESE CONNECTIONS

 N.Nandhivarman General Secretary Dravida Peravai

 The French connection to Puducherry is well known and wherever French flag went along with it the Pudicherry connectivity became a regular feature. Saigon became second home to many Puducherrians following that rule. “In August 1858, a French squadron, which included a few Spanish warships attacked the fortress of Danang that covered the road to Hue, the imperial capital. A year later, the squadron captured Saigon. Though their military superiority was undisputable the invaders failed to force Vietnamese to its knees. Vietnamese historians compare the French colonialists to silkworms who consumed the mulberry leaf little by little. Not until 1883, all of 25 years later did the imperial court of Saigon sign an unequal treaty acknowledging French supremacy “ writes Yevgeny Kobelev in a book on Ho Chi Minh.

  While French armies, which includes Puducherrians, struggled to gain foothold in Vietnam the Nattukottai Chettiars from Tamil Nadu went there in search of business opportunities and Puducherrians went to take care of state administration. Dharmanathan Purushanthi of Puducherry went in 1870 and his urge to stand on his own made him bid adieu to administrative jobs. He ventured into business on the lines of Chettiars. He established a soda factory and owned a liquor shop near harbour. His success there reached Puducherry and his brother Kannusamy Purushanthi sent his son Savarikannu Purushanthi to Saigon. Savarikkannu Purushanthi became a moneychanger and real estate owner, minted money and came back to Puducherry as the most prosperous citizen. At that time prime property close to RajNiwas came in for auction and all the rich had an eye on that but Savarikkannu Purushanthi won the auction. Thus a job seeker made money in Indo China and brought properties in his native soil.

Savarikannu Purushanthi 1910

 The Bank of Indo China too functioned in Puducherry in the place of current United Commercial Bank till Puducherry's independence. Thus Puducherry and Indo China connections led to cross country marriages. This resulted in the growth of Vietnamese restaurants even now we see in Puducherry. Puducherrians owned properties here as well as there. Savarikannu Purushanthi indulged in breeding race horses, which earned him fame in Vietnam. While the earlier Purushanthi’s were not highly educated in spite of their monetary success they did not have any political vision. But Savarikannu Purushanthi’s brother son Leon Purushanthi was a French graduate and he meticulously built his reputation as banker and at same time started airing his views for public consumption. It was a time when Mahatma Gandhi had launched his civil disobedience movement in India. Most of the job seekers from Puducherry have accepted French colonialism with reverence, but Gandhiji’s movement made Purushanthi sit up and watch colonial interests and intrigues. He resigned from government service and started fully concentrating on business. His writings started appearing in French magazines and newspapers of Indo China. He was distressed to note at the inequality shown towards Indians because of their dress. He strongly felt that modern dress is not harmful and advocated all should change from dhotis to pants which is convenient to wear and even wrote letters to Mahatma Gandhi on the subject.

Leon Purushanthi in Saigon 1930

 Leon Purushanthi was against caste system and from Indo China he could appreciate the self-respect movement of Periyar E.V.Ramasamy, which made him, write 5 articles in French magazines yet to become known here. Though he was in Christianity, all through his life in Saigon he had closely associated with Tamil Muslims association of Saigon. He frequented Hindu temples more than the church. Leon Purushanthi is a French citizen and most of the French citizens till date have never participated in Indian or French Indian freedom struggle. They were satisfied with Liberty-Equality-Fraternity under the French flag. In Saigon though most were of this line of thinking Leon Purushathi stands apart showing keen interest and involvement in India’s freedom struggle. The rise of Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose and his Indian National army attracted the freedom loving Purushanthi. While Nethaji was taken in streets of Saigon during Japanese occupation Leon Purushanthi greeted him by presenting gold kasumaalai, which adored his wife’s neck till that time. Indian Independence League of Nethaji was looking for an office space and Leon Purushanthi willingly offered his palatial house in Saigon for that purpose. His house 76 Rue Paul Blanchy at Saigon became the Secretariat of Nethaji’s Indian Independence League, a news about this appeared in Azad Hind magazine too. His support to Indian independence particularly for Nethaji was not to the liking of the French; mostly the supporters of Marshal Pertain who were ruling the French controlled Saigon at that time. They were furious with Purushanthi and waiting for time to teach him a lesson. Unfortunately the World War II ended in victory to the opposite side. Japan lost and along with it Nethaji too lost. Nethaji recruited lot of Puducherrians in his Indian National army. These aspects and the support given by freedom lovers like Leon Purushanthi have become forgotten facts with the failures that embraced their struggles.

 When French regained power in Saigon they picked up Leon Purushanthi from his house and imprisoned him. They tortured him like anything else and he became mentally retarded due to the cruelty inflicted upon him. Leon Purushanthi born on May 1 of 1901 within 45 years reached his glory and thereafter till he breathed last in 1968 he lived having lost his mental equilibrium. Life in Saigon became miserable with his properties being confiscated. Leon Purushanthi returned to Puducherry and lived in his house next to Raj Niwas. He used to visit Manakula Vinayagar temple and go around the park not conscious that India and Puducherry had gained independence. His sacrifices for the cause of the country still had not won any recognition. “

It is high time a postal stamp be brought out on Leon Purushanthi in remembrance of him and many Puducherrians who perished in the Indian National Army of Nethaji” said A.Ramasamy former Vice Chancellor of Alagappa University who had written the “History of Pondicherry”. Purushanthi’s descendent J.B.P.More himself a historian and let us hope he writes about Vietnam connections to Puducherry.

New Indian Express : 6.8.2005

MAYYAZHI: PONDICHERRY's MAHE

MAYYAZHI: THE FRENCH COLONY

N.NANDHIVARMAN

 The French wanted a foothold in the Arabian Coast. Pepper and cardamom were their main attractions. In order to be closer to sources of these spices French obtained permission from the Prince of Badagara to set up their establishment in Mahe by a treaty signed on 2 nd April 1721. Mahe is a word derived from “Mayyazhi” a river in which small boats could navigate up to 3 kilometers inland from the estuary. The possession of Mahe does not come easy to the French. The French had to face the fury of the British and hostility of the Iruvalinad Nambiars. Rulers of Badagara drove French out soon after giving it to French. But in December 1721, Marquis of Paradillan recovered Mahe for the French. Again in 1726 another peace treaty was signed between French and Molladin, the ruler of Badagara with 16 articles.  In spite of the treaty the Nayar Chiefs especially the ruler of Badagara seems not to have been happy with the French. It reached a culminating point when the ruler of Badagara blockaded Mahe for 18 months. The French fleet under Mahe de Labourdonnais recovered Mahe and a peace treaty of 24 th January 1742 was inked. Earlier on December 1741 a peace treaty was signed with the four Nambiars (Local chiefs) who ruled over the territories on the right of the Mayyazhi River. Kunhi Nayar gave the small territory of Kallayi to the French in the same year. The Nayar of Kurungod became an ally of the French and with his help French were able to defeat all the neighboring Nayar and Nambiar chiefs. British captured Mahe and Pondicherry in 1761. Mahe was razed to ground and when recovered in 1765 French had to rebuild. Hyder Ali visited Mahe in 1766 April and ten years later he gifted villages of Pallur, Pandakkal and Nallathura and adjoining areas. This is how Mayyazhi came under French colonial rule explains J.B.P.More in his recent book on Mahe. And still Mahe fails to regain its old name and remains content with being Mahe, a version corroborating the name of French Chief Mahe de Labourdonnais .

  Numerous books on freedom struggle in French India is Pondicherry centric, and the struggles of enclave territories have missed their due place in history. To fill up this vacuum Dr.J.B.P.More had brought out a beautiful book FREEDOM MOVEMENT IN FRENCH INDIA, which speaks about the enclave in the Arabian coast namely Mahe. Dr.J.B.P.More the historian and social scientist is a Tamilian living in France who obtained his Doctorate degree from Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris. His book places on record the Mahe Revolt of 1948 against the French regime under Governor Baron. “ The role of nationalist leaders of Mahe like I.K.Kumaran and P.K.Usman stands testimony to the fact that ideals and principles rather than power and profit can be great motivating factors in the struggle for freedom and the manifestation of nationalism” opines JBP.More.

 J.B.P.More specializes on Muslims and Dravidian inter cultural actions. His book “ Muslim Identity, Print Culture and the Dravidian Factor in Tamil Nadu” focuses on “Muslim Politics in Tamil Nadu in the context of Colonialism and their response to modernity in the two decades before India’s freedom. In this book the author recapitulates some of the themes and information but expands upon them in the backdrop of print in Tamil Nadu and in relation to Tamil identity politics as championed by the Dravidian movement under Periyar E.V.Ramasamy and Anna” opines A.R.Venkatachalapathy in a review of this book in the columns of The Hindu dated 12 th October 2004. His first book  “Political Evolution of the Muslims of Tamil Nadu and Madras 1930-1947” published by Orient Longman Limited in 1997 won the prestigious Book Room International Award for the year 1998. 

In view of his French nationality and permanent residence at France, though yearly visits to his home next to Raj Niwas in Ponduicherry keeps his contacts with his roots alive, JBP More has the opportunity to frequent the libraries of Paris. In the “Bibliotheque Nationale” of Paris he found a book on Bhagawatha Purana written by Maridas Poulle in 1769. More was astonished to find the first Indologist’s book. Maridas Poulle is the first translator of a Tamil classic into French. Maridas Poulle (1721-1796) is a name unknown till J.B.P More unearthed his manuscripts from the Paris library. It must be noted that J.B.P.More is not a blood relative of Maridas Poulle. More reedited this book in 2004 and published in Pondicherry, which was widely distributed in France. J.B.P.More also proposes to publish further works of Maridas Poulle including his essays on Indian history.

 J.B.P.More  translated 40 poems of Mahakavi Bharathiar into French and brought out a full-scale book in French “ L’Inde face a’ Bharati, Le Poet Rebelle” This book speaks about Bharathis life, his literary activities with a special emphasize on the French influence in his writings. The writings of  Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Proudan, and age of enlightenment had left a deep imprint in the poet’s vision. J.B.P.More traces these influences from Bharathiar’s works. One of the illustrious sons of Pondicherry’s soil had earnt recognition with his books. The book speak will place his name on high pedestal among social scientists and historians of Pondicherry.

courtesy: The New Indian Express-weekend 18.12.2004

NETHAJI’S VIETNAMESE CONNECTIONS

NETHAJI’S VIETNAMESE CONNECTIONS

 N.Nandhivarman General Secretary Dravida Peravai

 The French connection to Puducherry is well known and wherever French flag went along with it the Pudicherry connectivity became a regular feature. Saigon became second home to many Puducherrians following that rule. “In August 1858, a French squadron, which included a few Spanish warships attacked the fortress of Danang that covered the road to Hue, the imperial capital. A year later, the squadron captured Saigon. Though their military superiority was undisputable the invaders failed to force Vietnamese to its knees. Vietnamese historians compare the French colonialists to silkworms who consumed the mulberry leaf little by little. Not until 1883, all of 25 years later did the imperial court of Saigon sign an unequal treaty acknowledging French supremacy “ writes Yevgeny Kobelev in a book on Ho Chi Minh.

  While French armies, which includes Puducherrians, struggled to gain foothold in Vietnam the Nattukottai Chettiars from Tamil Nadu went there in search of business opportunities and Puducherrians went to take care of state administration. Dharmanathan Purushanthi of Puducherry went in 1870 and his urge to stand on his own made him bid adieu to administrative jobs. He ventured into business on the lines of Chettiars. He established a soda factory and owned a liquor shop near harbour. His success there reached Puducherry and his brother Kannusamy Purushanthi sent his son Savarikannu Purushanthi to Saigon. Savarikkannu Purushanthi became a moneychanger and real estate owner, minted money and came back to Puducherry as the most prosperous citizen. At that time prime property close to RajNiwas came in for auction and all the rich had an eye on that but Savarikkannu Purushanthi won the auction. Thus a job seeker made money in Indo China and brought properties in his native soil.

Savarikannu Purushanthi 1910

 The Bank of Indo China too functioned in Puducherry in the place of current United Commercial Bank till Puducherry's independence. Thus Puducherry and Indo China connections led to cross country marriages. This resulted in the growth of Vietnamese restaurants even now we see in Puducherry. Puducherrians owned properties here as well as there. Savarikannu Purushanthi indulged in breeding race horses, which earned him fame in Vietnam. While the earlier Purushanthi’s were not highly educated in spite of their monetary success they did not have any political vision. But Savarikannu Purushanthi’s brother son Leon Purushanthi was a French graduate and he meticulously built his reputation as banker and at same time started airing his views for public consumption. It was a time when Mahatma Gandhi had launched his civil disobedience movement in India. Most of the job seekers from Puducherry have accepted French colonialism with reverence, but Gandhiji’s movement made Purushanthi sit up and watch colonial interests and intrigues. He resigned from government service and started fully concentrating on business. His writings started appearing in French magazines and newspapers of Indo China. He was distressed to note at the inequality shown towards Indians because of their dress. He strongly felt that modern dress is not harmful and advocated all should change from dhotis to pants which is convenient to wear and even wrote letters to Mahatma Gandhi on the subject.

Leon Purushanthi in Saigon 1930

 Leon Purushanthi was against caste system and from Indo China he could appreciate the self-respect movement of Periyar E.V.Ramasamy, which made him, write 5 articles in French magazines yet to become known here. Though he was in Christianity, all through his life in Saigon he had closely associated with Tamil Muslims association of Saigon. He frequented Hindu temples more than the church. Leon Purushanthi is a French citizen and most of the French citizens till date have never participated in Indian or French Indian freedom struggle. They were satisfied with Liberty-Equality-Fraternity under the French flag. In Saigon though most were of this line of thinking Leon Purushathi stands apart showing keen interest and involvement in India’s freedom struggle. The rise of Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose and his Indian National army attracted the freedom loving Purushanthi. While Nethaji was taken in streets of Saigon during Japanese occupation Leon Purushanthi greeted him by presenting gold kasumaalai, which adored his wife’s neck till that time. Indian Independence League of Nethaji was looking for an office space and Leon Purushanthi willingly offered his palatial house in Saigon for that purpose. His house 76 Rue Paul Blanchy at Saigon became the Secretariat of Nethaji’s Indian Independence League, a news about this appeared in Azad Hind magazine too. His support to Indian independence particularly for Nethaji was not to the liking of the French; mostly the supporters of Marshal Pertain who were ruling the French controlled Saigon at that time. They were furious with Purushanthi and waiting for time to teach him a lesson. Unfortunately the World War II ended in victory to the opposite side. Japan lost and along with it Nethaji too lost. Nethaji recruited lot of Puducherrians in his Indian National army. These aspects and the support given by freedom lovers like Leon Purushanthi have become forgotten facts with the failures that embraced their struggles.

 When French regained power in Saigon they picked up Leon Purushanthi from his house and imprisoned him. They tortured him like anything else and he became mentally retarded due to the cruelty inflicted upon him. Leon Purushanthi born on May 1 of 1901 within 45 years reached his glory and thereafter till he breathed last in 1968 he lived having lost his mental equilibrium. Life in Saigon became miserable with his properties being confiscated. Leon Purushanthi returned to Puducherry and lived in his house next to Raj Niwas. He used to visit Manakula Vinayagar temple and go around the park not conscious that India and Puducherry had gained independence. His sacrifices for the cause of the country still had not won any recognition. “ It is high time a postal stamp be brought out on Leon Purushanthi in remembrance of him and many Puducherrians who perished in the Indian National Army of Nethaji” said A.Ramasamy former Vice Chancellor of Alagappa University who had written the “History of Pondicherry”. Purushanthi’s descendent J.B.P.More himself a historian and let us hope he writes about Vietnam connections to Puducherry.

 

Courtesy : NEW INDIAN EXPRESS 6.08.2005