The accession of the princely states in to the independent Indian Republic is a tough tale that the Iron Man of India alone could have scripted so successfully. Yet, in the Southern most tip of India, there used to be a small little colony which integrated really well in to the independent Indian Republic, without the 'nawabi nakharas' or the princely prejudices. That is the erstwhile Pondicherry, now named Puducherry, echoing the ancient Tamil nomenclature.
Even today, the town has a quaint French Flavour. French is almost as good as the mother tongue there, despite the native Tamil and the obvious English. The town has a very Frenchie feel to it. This 'French Riviera of the East' has the Parisian promenades with a quasi-L'Arc de Triomphe arch, the foliage flaunting walks, and the typical French Rococo monuments. Like the deep rumble of the Arabian Sea by its side, the town has an ambience of quietude.
The Aurobindo Ashram, the Auroville Matru-mandir, these are unmistakable centers of peace. So is the Basilica, yet again reminiscent of Paris. The strong Catholicism here does not leave a bitter taste in the mouth, unlike the North-Eastern conversions. The town even now is rarely in news for the wrong reasons. In fact, Kiran Bedi made this quiet place newsworthy at times!
Not that there has not been a racial mix. Surely though, it does not have a tribal mix-up. In the pre-colonial times, it was Vedapur! It had the Roman trade connect in the first century! The ancient Choulya-Pandya kingdoms influenced its trajectory, too.
The European connect started in the sixteenth century. As early as 1521, the Portugese reached there for the clothes trade. The Dutch followed. The French settlement strengthened circa 1694, and by 1699, it was a proper French colony.
After the Indian Independence, in 1954, it became a de facto part of the Indian Republic. The process was de jure on August 16, 1964. This Union Territory hence has a two days long holiday in mid-August.
Why is it that this South-Eastern Union Territory, or, for that matter, the South-Western state of Goa never explodes, unlike the eternally interrupted North-East? Well, Goa and Puducherry, too, were colonised/controlled by strongly Catholic countries. Goa is flush with the Holy Relics! Yet neither place is eternally on the boil, unlike the North-East.
Why? May be, as Sociology scholars often maintain, the Southern states in every country are quieter, more stable. May be, the sea by the side, unlike the craggy hills in the North-East, has a calming influence! Now, that is, of course, flippant!
Personally, I feel the "sushegaat" satisfaction comes more from the highly intellectual, rational, arty French Flavour, the "mangez bien, riez souvent, aimez beaucoup" Frenchie 'carpe diem' philosophy. What say?
Pratima@'Live and let live' seems to the theme song, the refrain behind the Southern success story.
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