History is sometimes even more complex. Indeed, in France itself, there were different stances: the ministry of the overseas territories (which still hoped to be able to 'emancipate' its 'overseas' countrymen) often had an opposite attitude to one of the ministry of foreign affairs, which knew from the day the British left the Subcontinent that there was no point in shilly-shallying: the colonial era had come to an end.
Further intricacies, if one studies the 'freedom struggle movement' in Pondicherry, one soon realises the various leaders such as Édouart Goubert or V Subbiah saw the events quite differently; most of time their views diverged and they often ended up in confrontation.
Fifty years later, many aspects of the story are corroborated by archival material -- as most of the 'declassified' documents are available in the National Archives of India, in the archives of the external affairs ministry in Paris or the ministry of overseas territories in Aix in South France. They reveal wheels within wheels.
In the end the picture looks like a great puzzle where each individual played his own role. One can only attempt, to rebuild the larger image, which could perhaps be called 'history.' It is probably presumptuous, but still worthwhile to try to piece together some parts of this puzzle.
Text: Claude Arpi; photograph: courtesy Neemrana Hotels