1. V. SUBBIAH AND MERGER MOVEMENT
P. Sadish
Assistant Professor
Department of History
PerunthalaivarKamarajar Arts College
Kalitheerthalkuppam
Pondicherry 605 107
INTRODUCTION
Pondicherry served as an asylum for national leaders. The periodical arrival of
national leadersand their flame like Speechesand writings received with great
enthusiasm.The arrival ofgreat leaders likeAurobindo, Bharathi,
V.S.S. Iyer etc. to Pondicherry sowed the seedsof nationalconsciousness and
cultivated the patriotic sense in the minds of natives of Pondicherry.The
growingconsciousness ofNationalism, patriotism and freedom from French yoke
becamevery significant in Pondicherry. The labour movements in the textile
industries of Pondicherrywere utilised as the medium for organising public
demonstrations in order to fulfil their fundamental rights and demands.
POLITICAL CAREER OF SUBBIAH
V. Subbiah, the veteran communist leader and leading nationalist played
significant role in the so called freedom movement of Pondicherry. He had
close relationship with V.V. Giri, O.P. RamasamyReddiar, former chief
minister of Madras, Jeevarathinam, leading communist of Tamil Nadu and
Jawaharlal Nehru1.He began his political career in 1936 by associatinghimself
with the activities of Trade Union Movement. As a man of action he began
Mahajan Sabah of Pondicherry in 1937 and became its secretary. The Tamil
weekly ―Swadanthiram‖ (1934)became one of his organ to mobilize the people
from different walks of life to fight for freedom. Gandhi‘s and Nehru‘s visit to
Pondicherry in1934 and 1936 stimulated the enthusiasm and brought the wind
of independence on the side of people of French Pondicherry.Subbiahwas in
Vellore central prison till 1942 for his anti – colonial activities against govt. He
was to stay in underground since both French and British govt. wanted him.
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2. As a communist, he met lot of opposition from several walks of life and in
September 1942 communist party of French India was launched under his
leadership.With the help of communist peoples and friends he mobilized the
people for the freedom against French yoke. In 1943 he began French Indian
KisanSabha (branch of All India KisanSabha) at Karaikal for the welfare of
peasants and this Sabha focussed the problems of farmers of Karaikal to the
French Indian govt.
He began National Democratic Front in 1945 and swept the polls in 1946 with
the aim of autonomy within the French Union.When the British govt.
transferredpowers into the responsible hands of Indians in 1947, he started total
agitation for liberation against French govt. He won a seat in the election of
1959 and 1964 after the establishment of people‘s Front.
He was the member of representative assembly from1946 to 1969,
Member of a French parliament from 1946 to 1948,
Leader of opposition at Pondicherry since 1955,
Secretary,Tamil Nadu communist party from 1952 to 54,
Chairmen, public accounts committee from1965 to 1966,
Member of the national council of the communist party since 1965,
Working committee member of the AITUC since 1957,
He was elected to the state assembly in Feb. 1969 and served as Minister of
Agriculture from March 1969 to 1973 in the DMK people‘s Front coalition
Government of Pondicherry2.He attended the Haripura session of Congress in
1937-38.After having attendedHaripura congress session, he returned to
Bombay on Feb.1938 and met certain leaders of the All India Trade Union
Congress and Communist party especially N. M. Joshi, Trade Union leader,
under his leadership the cause of Pondicherry working class was well
represented at ILO inGeneva3.He then returned to Mahe. He was well received
by I. K. Kumaran, Sri Bharadhan, and MushikalPadmanabhan etc.
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3. On the next day morning Subbiah delivered an elaborate speech supporting the
cause of the peoples of Mahe against French Govt4.After returning to
Pondicherry he arranged Central Committeemeeting of the MahajanaSabha in
order to review the action of the French Govt. regarding the constitution of the
municipal commissions as proposed by the Mahajan Sabha. All the sections of
peoples like working class of various trades and profession, agriculture workers
and landless poor peasants were organised into trade unions due to his restless
effort. He initiated the first peasant conference at Ariankuppam in 19375 and
ViswanathaPadayachi of Ariankuppam commune was elected as the secretary
of French Indian KisanSabha.
As a result of these activities of Subbiah, hisTamil weekly ―Swadanthiram‖ was
banned for publication on 18th June 1938 and its printing press was destroyed by
French armed regiment6.The spear head leaders like S.R. Subramanyan, R.
Dorairau and R. PurushothamaReddiar were arrested on 16th June 1938 and
21stJune 1938 respectively. At this critical juncture theTamil daily Dhinamani
published the news of Subbiah‘s address of meeting in Satyamoorthy hall,
Madras at 5 ‗o‘ clock eveningbecame big challenge for the French govt. All the
preventive measures were taken to stop Subbiah‘s departure to Madras7. He was
called for an enquiry and it was lasted up to 3.00
P. M.Having with the new hope of his friend‘s car he reached Madras as soon as
possible and addressed the gathering. It was well appreciated by Tamil Nadu
Congress president MuthurangaMudaliar who promised to help through all
possible means. Now the French govt. tried to arrest Subbiah but he escaped
and stayed in underground of various places like Madras and
Chengalpatturegions.Staying in underground,he had communication with
important leader and peoples of Pondicherry.
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4. In April 1937, Subbiah went to France and met leading lawyers of Paris and his
friend Mr.GnanouDiagou helped him lot in order to understand the political and
legal system of the French8. After reaching Pondicherryhe sent report to Nehru
on 22nd Oct. 1938. In his report he requested Nehru to meet his friends on his
visit to France and to suppress the brutal actions of French armed forces. Messrs
Xavery Pillai and Leon St.Jean met Subbiah in the underground shelter at
Madras but British special branch traced out his underground den as early as
July 1938 and he was arrested. He was taken back to Pondicherry on 1st January
1939 and put into jail9.
The political developments stimulated the anger of the people against the
British imperialism and it had its impacts on the national movement inside the
French India.On 11th June 1939 Subbiah was released from central jail. When
Nethaji visited the congress socialist party office in Madras on 30 thAugust 1939,
he participated in that meeting and had informal discussions regarding liberation
of India10.When Second World War broke out,Subbiah circulated anti – war
literature and pamphlets in South Arcot and Tanjore districts. As a result,
British govt. passed an order which banned him of addressing public meeting in
Madras. But he carried youth meeting and he was arrested and put into Vellore
central jail on January 1941.He was released from Vellore jail on 11th
September 1942. Then he went to Chandranagore and met Kali Charan Ghosh,
TinkoriMukherji and BhavaniMukkerjee. He addressed in the meeting of
kondalpara jute mill workers union.
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND POLITICAL EVENTS OF
PONDICHERRY
National movement of British India gained its serious momentum under Gandhi
after 1940 who gave the call of ‗do‘ or ‗die‘ in Quit India Movement of 1942.
Further the end II world war weakened the economic and military condition of
England. Doctrine of self – determination was strongly advocated by UNO
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5. after the end of Second World War. Indian National Congress conceived the
ideology from Dominion status to complete Independence.The militant
uprisings in Calcutta, Nagpur and Madras which further shattered the British
Empire in India.British govt. was forced by the political phenomenon of India to
take a new decision on their parliament to safeguard their vested interest.
The formation of interim govt. was drastic change in British colonial history of
India. National and global political development had far reaching changes on
the political events of Pondicherry because the policy of French Indian Govt.
underwent some changes in consonant with changes of the newly emerged
Fourth Republican govt. of France in 1945. As a result of these new
constitution, democratic rights were restored. At this critical situation the
communist party of India brought all patriotic forces under one platform of
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT with the political ideology self –
autonomy.Subbiah suggested on one hand complete independence of India and
on the other hand merger ofKaraikal, MaheYanam and Chandranagore with
neighbouring free states of Indian union. Further the independence of
Pondicherry will continue in art, science and other cultural components of the
French people11.
By June 1946 Governor Baron suggested that Pondicherry will be merged with
British India if plebiscite was in favour of such merger. The Tamil daily
Dinamani strongly condemned it and suggested the immediate merger of
Pondicherry with British India12.ButSubbiah suggested that there was no place
for Pondicherry with British India and it was only with independent India.
CONDITION AFTER 1946
Freedom struggle in Pondicherry turned its shape from 17th August 1946
onwards with French Indian Students Congress. The eminent leaders of this
party wasSebastian,Mariadasu, Munusamy and others. Both French Indian
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6. National Congress and French Indian Students Congress worked side by side
for freedom. S.R. Subramanian of FINC suggested the merger of Pondicherry
with the Indian Union as early as 10th August 1946.In March 1947 Student
Federation became very powerful. They began agitation and hartals against
French govt. At this circumstances governor Baron met Gandhi and tried to
appease him with the legislation that he was to introduce a pattern of
administration in Pondicherryand what actually happened was nobody knows in
between them. But after reaching Pondicherry Baron gagged the voice of
nationalist that his legislation got Gandhi‘s blessings13.
Under this circumstancesNational Democratic Front was disunited and leading
personalities like Mayor of Pondicherry Muthupillai and
VenkataSubbhaReddiar, Mayor of Nettapakkam left NDF and joined socialist
party14.The communist party was left alone in the battle against French
imperialism.
Meantime French Indian national congress sent a letter to Prime MinisterNehru
on 10th June 1947 that alarmed the rise of freedom movement in French India.
After receiving the letter, Prime Minister Nehru sent V.V. Giri to meet Subbiah
in Madras. In order to ease the situation Govt. of India annulled the arrest
warrant of Subbiah who established political centres in Cuddalore,
Kottakuppam, Villupuram,Tranqubar, Thalachery and Kakinada etc.
A TURN IN FREEDOM STRUGGLE AFTER 9TH AUGUST 1947
In the first week of August 1947, the communist party and all mass
organisations, the National congress and its youth organisations decided for
their joint action. On 9thAugust the working class and merchants observed
complete bandh. The students and youth movement began their procession and
gave a call that the French should quit Pondicherry. French Govt. in
Pondicherry took immediate action and hundreds of volunteers were arrested
and then released. This news was flashed in the newspapers of Paris15.
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7. On 13th August 1947 Subbiah met Nehru and conveyed the upsurge of the
people of French Pondicherry and on that particular date they really wanted to
throw off the French administration. Nehru was convinced andSubbiah
immediately returned to Pondicherry to convey this message to all political
parties. The Indian National Congress at Jaipur session declared that the future
French India was obviously the policy of Govt. of India16.When liberation
struggle became strong and sharp, brutal assault was made on native leaders by
French army. Subbiah house was raided by goondasand the newspaper Hindu
published this matter on 14th January 195017.At that time he was in the
underground den of Pakkamudayanpetand later he moved to Pondicherry border
of South Arcot because of arrest warrant issued by French govt. The French
special intelligence wings traced out his moving in South Arcot districts.
Political parties and public leaders of Tamil Nadu strongly condemned the
brutal activities of French govt.
NEHRU’S INITIATIVE
In July 1951 V.V. Giri came to Pondicherry to study the situation as per the
advice of Nehru. He wanted to meet Subbiah and expressed this matter through
one of his friend MurugasamyClemecou. He fixed a place near Adayar to meet
V. V. Giri. In the form of underground appearance Subbiah met V.V.Giri and
told his plan and his arrest warrant was finally withdrawn.18
V. Subbiah who organised several meetings at Cuddalore and other places.One
such meeting was ―A French Indian Refugees Conference‖ held at Cuddalore
on 4th August 1952. The aim of the conference was to mobilize the people and
popularise the liberation movement He was trying to forge a ―Democratic
Front‖ and appealed to the leaders of the political parties to sink their difference
and join together ―for the common cause of liberating our country from the
French imperialist rule.‖ The meeting was addressed by S.S.
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8. Ramasamypadayatchiar and S. B. Adithan, an ex. minister of Tamil Nadu.
Thousands of delegates attended the conference.
FINAL BLOW TO FRENCH IMPERIALISM
In 1954 Subbiah flew to Delhi and met the central committee of communist
party of India at Delhi. In the central committee meeting he finalised the
systematic plan of action and date for launching final blow to French govt. was
April 1954. The Volunteers were trained up to manage the situation with French
army, an ex. Army officer Jaipal Singh was deputed to Pondicherry to train the
volunteers. Training camps were established in in the borders of
Thirubhuvanai.
The liberation movement reached its climax when hand full of seven villages in
Bahoor commune declared independence on 3rdApril 1954. On 5th April, 1954
three more villages Manamedu, Krishnappuram and Kaduvanu in theBahoor
commune declared free form French rule.On 6th April 1954, 22 villages of
Thirubhuvanai commune declared independence and volunteers of communist
party captured public places like police station and hoisted the National flag
there. Massive hartals took place in Dupleix Street and more than 300 people
were arrestedOn 7th April 1954 volunteers of French Indian Youth Congress and
Communist party performed their great demonstration. On 14th April 1954
Students congress launched a campaign under DoraiMunisamy. An all party
conference was convened on 26thApril by French India National Congress at
Cuddalore. A joint coalition of French India communist party, other leftist
organisations and the central merger congress was formed on 29th April to
intensify the struggle. The negotiation between France and India caused
disappointment. Once again on 5th August 1954 formal negotiation were began
between both govt. regarding future of French settlement in India. A complete
hartal came into force on 9th August in Pondicherry by communist party and
youth congress.
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9. On 11th August the French commissioner of Pondicherry Menard was replaced
by Escargueil, the Secretary General assumed the charge of
commissioner.Towards the end of September the satisfactory agreement was
reached between both govt.On 12th October 1954, a joint Indo – French
declaration announced that the territories of French settlements in India is to be
handover to representative elected by the people for the approval.
On 18th October 1954 nearly 170 member out of 178 municipal councillors and
members of Representative assembly of Pondicherry, Karaikal, Mahe and
Yanam met at Kizhur, represented their verdict in favour of merging French
Indian settlement with Indian Union. The proceeding were presided over by
Balasubramaniam, the head of the representative assembly. The news of the
merger which reached to hundreds of villages and peoples celebrated it with
garland of flowers and procession with pipes music and band.
The de facto agreement signed on 21st October 1954 at New Delhi and it came
into effect on 1st Nov. 1954 with the signing of the instrument of transfer of
power at the Govt. house. Pondicherry by Pierre Landy, special envoy of France
and Kewal Singh, on behalf of the Indian govt.
On 2nd October 1954, Chandranagore merger act came into force and it was
merged with west Bengal.It is also to note that significant events of merger
movement took place even in Karaikal,Mahe and Yanam resulted the final
action of the total freedom movement in French India.On May 28, 1956 the
treaty of cession of the French establishment ofPondicherry,Karaikal, Mahe and
Yanam was signed between France and India. But the constitutionality of such
transfer was delayed for another six years on 16th August 1962 the de jure
formally came into effect.
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10. CONCLUSION
On 21 October 1954 the Consul General of India prepared himself for the
celebration of govt. Festival of liberation of 1st November 1954.The great
struggle for merger was over. Pondicherry became the integral part of Indian
union. The French parliament ratified the Treaty of transfer of French Indian
settlements to the Indian Union on 12th July 1962. The instruments of
ratification were exchanged subsequently in New Delhi on 16thAugust 1962.
Notes and References
1.V. Subbiah, Saga of Freedom of French India (Testament of my life),NCBH.Madras, 1990, P.X
2. Ibid, p.xii
3. Ibid, p. 60
4. Ibid. p 182.
5. Ibid. p. 60
6. Ibid. p. 191
7. Ibid. p. 193.
8. Ibid. p. 197.
9. Ibid. P. 206.
10.Tamizharasan, Communist movements in Pondicherry,M.Phil. Thesis.Dept. of history,
Pondicherry University 1995.
11. A. Ramachandiran(late), Merger movements in Pondicherry (seminar paper) 1997.
12. S. Shantini, JawaharlalNehru and the merger of French settlements into the Indian union, PH.D
thesis, Dept. of History. Pondicherry University, 2005 pp. 121-122.
13. P. Raja & Rita NathKeshari, Glimpses of Pondicherry, Busy Bee Books. Pondicherry.2005 P. 93
14. V. subbiah, op. cit. p.263.
15. V. Subbiah, op. cit. P.258
16. V. Subbiah,op. cit. p. 270
17. Ibid. p.281
18. Ibid. p.294
Books.
1. V. Subbiah, Saga of Freedom of French India, NCBH, Madras, 1990
2. A. Ramasamy, History of Pondicherry, Sterling publishers, New Delhi, 1997.
3. AjithNeogy, Decolonisation French India, Liberation movement and Indo French relation
1947—1954, French institute, 1997
4 S. P. Sen. The French in India (1763-1816), Delhi,MunishimManoharlal, 1971.
5 Mathew, K.S., édit.French in India and Indian Nationalism -- 1700 A.D. – 196 A.D, 2.vol.
Pragati Publications, Delhi, 1999, 2 volume
6. Francis Cyril Antony, ed. Gazetteer of India: Union Territory of Pondicherry. Vol.I,
Pondicherry, 1982.
7. Puducherry Manila ViduthalaiPoraattaVaralaru(in Tamil), published by Dept. of school
Education, 1994.
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