PUDUCHERRY: The Union territory of Puducherry celebrated its 61st 'De Jure Transfer Day' on August 16 at the historic memorial at Kizhur village in Villianur commune panchayat. It was on this day in 1962, Puducherry formally merged with the Indian union after the French government ratified 'Treaty of cession' in its Parliament.
The French rule continued in the Union territory even after India attained Independence on August 15, 1947. The French government came forward to liberate the territory from its rule only after a referendum at Kizhur, 22km from Puducherry town on November 1 in 1954.
Kizhur is a village bordering Puducherry and Tamil Nadu and the village was selected for peaceful polling without any political or administrative interferences. The referendum was held to decide whether Puducherry should continue under French rule or join the Indian Union. Of 181 councillors, 174 councillors voted against French rule. It took almost eight years for the French government to ratify the formal merger of Puducherry with the Indian Union in its Parliament on August 16, 1962.
Since then, the Union territory celebrates its formal merger with the Indian Union on August 16 every year.
Speaker of the legislative assembly R Selvam hoisted the flag in the presence of agriculture minister Theni C Jayakumar on Wednesday. They both later honoured freedom fighters at the memorial hall in Kizhur where the referendum was held.
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