Puducherry
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| Union Territory of Puducherry புதுச்சேரி Pondicherry |
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| Union Territory | ||
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 Location of Puducherry (marked in red) in India |
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| Coordinates: 11°56′N 79°08′E / 11.93°N 79.13°ECoordinates: 11°56′N 79°08′E / 11.93°N 79.13°E | ||
| Country |  India |
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| Formation | 7 Jan 1963 | |
| Capital and Largest city | Pondicherry | |
| District(s) | 4 | |
| Government | ||
| • Lieutenant Governor | A. K. Singh (additional charge) [1] | |
| • Chief Minister | N. Rangaswamy (AINRC) | |
| • Legislature | Unicameral (33*seats) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 492 km2 (190 sq mi) | |
| Population | ||
| • Total | 1,244,464 | |
| • Rank | 2nd | |
| • Density | 2,500/km2 (6,600/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Puducherrian | |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) | |
| ISO 3166 code | IN-PY | |
| Official languages | Tamil Malayalam Telugu |
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| Website | www.py.gov.in [2][3] | |
| ^* 30 elected, 3 nominated | ||
Puducherry, formerly known as Pondicherry /ˌpɒndɨˈtʃɛri/, is a Union Territory of India formed out of four exclaves of former French India (being its capital, hence also known informally as Pondicherry) and named after the largest Puducherry district.
The Tamil name is (Puducherry), which means "New Town".[4] Historically known as Pondicherry (Pāṇṭiccēri), the territory changed its official name to Puducherry (Putuccēri) on 20 September 2006.[5]
Contents
Geography[edit]
The union territory of Puducherry consists of four small unconnected districts: Puducherry, Karaikal and Yanam on the Bay of Bengal and Mahe on the Arabian Sea. Puducherry and Karaikal have the largest areas and population, and are both enclaves of Tamil Nadu. Yanam and Mahe are enclaves of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala respectively. The territory has an area of 492 square kilometres (190 sq mi): Puducherry 293 km², Karaikal 160 km², Mahe 9 km² and Yanam 30 km². Its 2011 population was 1,244,464.
Some of Puducherry's districts are themselves amalgamations of non-contiguous enclaves, often called pockets in India. The Puducherry district is made of 11 such pockets, some of which are very small and entirely surrounded by the territory of Tamil Nadu. Mahe district is made up of three pockets. This unusual geography is a legacy of the colonial period with Puducherry retaining the borders of former French India.
Rivers[edit]
All four districts of Puducherry are located in the coastal region. Five rivers in Puducherry district, seven in Karaikal, two in Mahe and one in Yanam drain into the sea, but none originates within the territory.
History[edit]
The earliest recorded history of Puducherry can be traced to the 2nd century CE. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea mentions a marketplace named Poduke (ch. 60). G. W. B. Huntingford identified suggested this might be a site about 2 miles from the modern Pondicherry, which was possibly the location of Arikamedu (now part of Ariyankuppam). Huntingford noted that Roman pottery was found at Arikamedu in 1937. In addition, archaeological 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".[6]
In 1674, Pondicherry (Pondichéry) became a French colonial possession. Together with Chandannagar (already French since 1673), Mahe (Mahé) (since 1721), Yanam (Yanaon) (since 1731), Karikal (since 1739) and Masulipatam (1760), it formed the French colony French India, under a single French governor in Pondicherry, although French rule over one or more of these enclaves was repeatedly interrupted by British occupations.
Pondicherry was transferred to the young republic of (ex-British) India de facto on 1 November 1954, legally on 16 August 1962, when French India ceased to exist but became the present Indian constituent state of Puducherry, still combining four coastal enclaves.
French influence & legacy[edit]
The plan of the city of Puducherry is based on the French grid pattern and features perpendicular streets. The town is divided into two sections: the French Quarter (Ville Blanche or 'White town') and the Indian quarter (Ville Noire or 'Black Town'.) Many streets retain French names, and villas in French architectural styles are a common sight. In the French quarter, the buildings are typically in colonial style, with long compounds and stately walls. The Indian quarter consists of houses lined with verandas and with large doors and grilles. These French - and Indian-style houses are preserved from destruction by an organisation named INTACH.
The French language can still be seen on signs and menus, and heard in Puducherry.
Puducherry has a number of residents with French passports: most are of Indian descent and a small number are of non-Indian descent. At the time of Puducherry's transfer to India in 1954, residents were given a choice to remain French or to become Indian citizens. Those with French passports today are generally descendants of residents who chose to keep their French citizenship.
Several monuments in the city pertain to the French period. A French Consulate is located in Puducherry, along with several cultural organisations. Another important building is Le Foyer du Soldat, a veterans legion hall for soldiers who served in French wars.
Among the French cultural organisations, the French Institute of Pondicherry, the Puducherry 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.
Government and administration[edit]
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This section does not cite any references (sources). (August 2012) |
Puducherry is a Union Territory of India rather than a state, which implies that governance and administration falls directly under federal authority. However, along with Delhi, Puducherry is one of two union territories in India that is entitled by special constitutional amendments to have an elected legislative assembly and a cabinet of ministers, thereby conveying partial statehood.
The Centre is represented by the lieutenant 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 territory's financial well-being unlike states, which have a central grant that they administer. Consequently, Puducherry has at various times, enjoyed lower taxes, especially in the indirect category.
Special administration status[edit]
According to the Treaty of Cession of 1956, the four territories of former French India territorial administration are permitted to make laws with respect to specific matters. In many cases, such legislation may require ratification from the federal government or the assent of the President of India.
Article II of the Treaty states:
"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."
Official languages[edit]
French remained the official language according to the "Traité de Cession" (Treaty of Cession) 1956 and the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963. According to the treaty, "the French language shall remain the official language of the Establishments so long as the elected representatives of the people shall not decide otherwise". Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam are the three official languages used region-wise.[7][8] French lost its official status with the adoption of "The Pondicherry Official Language Act 1965" (Act No. 3 of 1965) in which it is stated that "the Tamil language shall (...) be the language to be used for all or any of the official purposes of the Union territory." It also provides for the use of the Malayalam and Telugu languages in the Mahé and Yanam districts. The law also states that English "may be used for all or any of the official purposes of the Union territory". [9]
Official symbols[edit]
On 16 April 2007, the government of Puducherry announced that the following were to be its state symbols:[10]
| Song | Invocation to Goddess Tamil (written by Bharathidasan) |
|---|---|
| Animal | Squirrel |
| Bird | Koel |
| Flower | Cannonball tree's flower |
| Tree | Bael fruit tree |
In culture[edit]
Puducherry was the residence of Sri Aurobindo (1872-1950). The Sri Aurobindo Ashram still operates from Puducherry. Sri Aurobindo and the Mother stayed here. Their writings remain a tremendous source of spiritual awakening that emphasises the progress of humanity and its spiritual brotherhood. A unique experimental city, Auroville, the brainchild of the Mother, whose inhabitants are drawn from all parts of the world, is situated on the outskirts of the city.
Puducherry was the setting for Yann Martel's first third of his Booker Prize-winning novel Life of Pi (2001). A portion of the subsequent film adaptation of the same name was filmed there.[11]
Lee Langley's novel A House in Pondicherry (1996) was set there.
"Prince Pondicherry" is an Indian character from Roald Dahl's children's novel Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (1964). The prince orders Willy Wonka to build a palace of chocolate in India; the palace melts in the hot sun.
Puducherry was where the national poet ShriSubramania Bharati wrote several of his masterpieces. His local disciple Bharathidasan wrote poems dealing with social revolution and emancipation of women.
Economy[edit]
Output[edit]
The gross state domestic product of Puducherry, at market prices estimated by Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation with figures in crores of Indian rupees grew from 184 to 25,819 crore rupees from 1980- 2014.
| Year | Gross State Domestic Product |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 184 |
| 1985 | 342 |
| 1990 | 603 |
| 1995 | 1,320 |
| 2000 | 3,781 |
| 2010 | 13,092 |
| 2014 | 25,819 [12] |
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This section needs additional citations for verification. (May 2012) |
Puducherry's gross state domestic product for 2004 was estimated at $2 billion in current prices.
Fisheries[edit]
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 of inshore waters, 1.347 hectares (3.33 acres) of inland water and 800 ha of brackish water. 27 marine fishing villages and 23 inland fishing villages host a fishermen population of about 65,000 of which 13,000 are actively engaged in fishing. Tanks and ponds are also tapped for commercial fish rearing.
Power[edit]
The present availability of power is about 400 MW.
Tourism[edit]
Puducherry is one of the most popular tourist spots for national and international tourists. There are several beaches here. There is also Sri Aurobindo Ashram, where Sri Aurobindo spent his last years. There are several temples,churches,monuments, parks and mosques which attract tourists.
Transport[edit]
Rail[edit]
Puducherry is connected by a railway branch line from the five-way junction at Viluppuram and Chennai. The railway line is a broad gauge line. Express trains come from Chennai, Bangalore, Viluppuram, Mumbai, Bhubaneswar, Howrah and other cities. It takes approximately four hours to reach Puducherry from Chennai by train.
A new broad gauge line from Karaikal to Nagore is underway.
Road[edit]
Puducherry is endowed with excellent infrastructure on par with India's best. 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 comparison with Tamil Nadu and India as a whole | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Road Length (in Puducherry) | 2552 km | ||
| Road Length per 1000 km² | Puducherry | Tamil Nadu | India |
| 4575 | 1572 | 663 | |
| Sl. No. | Type of road | Length in (km) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Highways | 64.450 |
| 2 | State Highways | 49.304 |
| 3 | District & Other Roads | |
| Puducherry – 173.384 | ||
| Karaikal – 55.162 | ||
| Mahé – 19.622 | ||
| Yanam – 26.460 | ||
| 274.628 | 274.628 | |
| 4 | Rural Roads | |
| Puducherry – 164.964 | ||
| Karaikal – 83.470 | ||
| 248.434 | 248.434 | |
| Grand Total | 636.816 |
Air[edit]
- Pondicherry Airport is situated at Lawspet. The Puducherry Government upgraded the airport in 2012[13] with a new terminal building and apron to accommodate larger aircraft. The new terminal building was inaugurated in January 2013 and scheduled flights to Bangalore were launched.[14] A MoU has been signed with Airports Authority of India for expansion of Pondicherry Airport in two phases.[15]
- Karaikal Airport, a greenfield airport to be ready by 2014, will be the India's first airport to be built entirely with private capital.[16]
Once again, from 14 April 2015 as PM N.Modi announces the city to be a Smart City - Pondicherry (PNY) is now connected by Air India with an ATR aircraft service 6 times a week except Wednesday, its an afternoon service departing from Bangalore returning by evening to Bangalore. One can earn & redeem Star Alliance miles on the route.
Education[edit]
Puducherry has almost a hundred per cent literacy level.[citation needed]
Pondicherry University[edit]
Pondicherry University is a Central University.[17]
Colleges[edit]
- Aarupadai Veedu Medical College & Hospital[18]
- SHRI KRISHNAA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, Mannadipet, Puducherry[19]
- Achariya College of Engineering Technology[20]
- Alpha College of Engineering and Technology
- Bharathithasan Government college for Women
- Bharathiyar College of Engineering and Technology, Karaikal
- Christ College of Engineering and Technology
- DR SJS Pauls college of Engineering and Technology, Pondicherry
- Indira Gandhi college of arts and science
- Indira Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute
- Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research
- Indira Gandhi Institute of Dental Sciences
- Kasthurba College for Women, Villianur
- Mahatma Gandhi Government Arts College, Mahé
- Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute
- Mahatma Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Dental Sciences
- Mahé Co-operative College for Higher Studies and Education
- JIPMER Hospital and Medical college
- Manakula Vinayagar Institute of Technology
- National Institute of Technology, Puducherry
- Mother Theresa Post Graduate and Research Institute of Health Sciences, Puducherry. [21]
- Orient Flight School[22][unreliable source?]
- Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Institute of Engineering and Technology[23]
- Pondicherry Engineering College
- Pondicherry Institutes of Medical Sciences
- Rajiv Gandhi ayurveda medical college, Mahe
- Rajiv Gandhi College of Engineering and Technology
- Rajiv Gandhi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
- Regency Institute of Technology
- RVS engineering College
- Shree Sathguru Engineering College
- Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education
- Sri Ganesh College of Engineering & Technology
- Sri Lakshmi Narayana Institute of Medical Sciences
- Sri Manakula Vinayagar Engineering College
- Sri Manakula Vinayagar Medical College & Hospital
- Sri Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Centre
- Tagore Arts College
- University College of Engineering
- Vinayaka Missions Medical College
- Pope John Paul II College Of Education
- Dr SJS Paul Memorial College of Engineering and Technology
Demographics[edit]
Religion[edit]
See also[edit]
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References[edit]
- ^ "Puducherry L-G Kataria sacked". Indian Expres. 11 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
- ^ "Press Release" (PDF) (Press release). Government of Puducherry Directorate of Information Technology. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ "NIC Puducherry". Pon.nic.in. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
- ^ "South Asia | New name for old French territory". BBC News. 20 September 2006. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ "National : Bill to rename Pondicherry as Puducherry passed". The Hindu. 22 August 2006. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea: Travel and Trade in the Indian Ocean by a Merchant of the First Century. Kessinger Publishing. July 2007. p. 119. ISBN 978-0-548-20943-1.
- ^ "The Government of Union Territories Act, 1963" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Retrieved June 2015.
- ^ "Puducherry code volume 1" (pdf). Government of Puducherry. Retrieved June 2015.
- ^ http://cidif.go1.cc/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84:0390-le-francais-a-pondichery-par-roland-breton&catid=25:lettre-nd22&Itemid=3
- ^ "Tamil Nadu News : Puducherry comes out with list of State symbols". The Hindu. 21 April 2007. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ "Filming Locations". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
- ^ List of Indian states by GDP
- ^ "Flight operations await new terminal". IBN Live. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
- ^ "First flight to Puducherry from Bangalore on January 17". Retrieved 5 February 2013.
- ^ "Puducherry airport to go on stream in October". The Economic Times. 3 September 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
- ^ "Coimbatore firm to build India's first private airport in Karaikal". The Times of India. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
- ^ "Pondicherry University". Pondicherry University. Archived from the original on 25 April 2011.
- ^ "Welcome to Aarupadai Veedu Medical College and Hospitals, Puducherry". Avmcpondy.com. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ "Krishnaa Engineering College". Krishnaa Engineering College. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
- ^ "Acharya Engineering College". Acharya Engineering College. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ "Mother Theresa Post Graduate And Research Institute Of Health Sciences, Puducherry". Mtihs.puducherry.gov.in. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
- ^ "Orient Flight School". Orientflights.com. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ "Welcome to the Website of PKIET". Pkiet.edu.in. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
- ^ "Population by religion community - 2011". Census of India, 2011. The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. Archived from the original on 25 August 2015.
External links[edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Puducherry. |
- Official website of the Government of the Union Territory of Puducherry
- Treaty establishing De Jure Cession of French Establishments in India
- Official website of Department of Tourism, Pondicherry
- Official website for Tourism Development, Pondicherry
- WorldStatesmen - French India
- Pondicherry's City Guide - Hotels
Puducherry travel guide from Wikivoyage
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