The month of October saw the last days of French Pondicherry. On October 18, a congress was held in the tiny village of Kizhoor in a hurriedly built shed. The building spanned both French and Indian territories giving a chance to those who were under arrest warrant by the French authorities to participate (from the Indian side of the shed) in the historic vote. The electoral college, consisting of the members of the representative assembly and the municipal councilors, voted with an imposing majority in favour of the merger with India. The transfer was formalised on November 1, 1954.

Delhi was delighted that the transfer went smoothly and that France could leave without too much bitterness. It was also a precedent for Kashmir: a foreign power acknowledged that a 'popular consultation' could be held outside the framework of a plebiscite or referendum.

Text: Claude Arpi; photograph: courtesy Claude Arpi