An external factor played a primordial role in the events of the months of June and July 1954, ultimately tilting the balance in favour of withdrawal of the French administration from its Indian establishments: it was the Geneva Conference on the future of Indochina which followed the French defeat in Dien Bien Phu.
The merit for the smooth transfer from the French administration to Union of India in November 1954, undoubtedly goes to Pierre Mendes-France, the French prime minister. His role, though not well known was essential. The end of the month of July saw Mendes-France win his gamble in Geneva: a week after a solution was found for Indochina, Paris informed Nehru of its decision to cede the French establishments in India.
The merger of French India was one of the first concrete steps towards decolonisation for France. Was it a coincidence that the freedom movement (or the Algerian war for the French) began that very November 1, 1954?
One has to mention a very strong political current in South India. Several politicians of the erstwhile Madras state (including Kamaraj and the Communists) wanted Pondicherry to be integrated with Madras. But Nehru remained firm: the 'cultural particularity' of Pondicherry was to be preserved.
Text: Claude Arpi; photograph: courtsey Neemrana Hotels