A Union Territory of India is made up of parts of three states

Puducherry is a union territory of India, but it is a little different from the rest of the union territories. All the union territories of India are in their places and are not in different parts. 

The Union Territory of India Puducherry was once a French colony spread across South India, including Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam. Which is operated by the Central Government today. The capital of Puducherry is Puducherry or Pondicherry was once the headquarters of the French colonies in India. 

The history behind it is quite interesting Karaikal falls in the region of Tamil Nadu, Yanam is surrounded by Andhra Pradesh and Mahe is in Kerala.

How did Puducherry become a part of India? Brief History of Puducherry 

The history of Puducherry is linked to the sage Agastya. During excavation in Puducherry, it was found that Roman people used to live 2000 years ago. This place was also the site of a war between the British, Dutch and French

During the 17th century, 1673 French East India Company started setting up trading centers, and later on, this place became prominent for the French. Dutch and British trading companies also wanted to establish their setup and wanted to do business in India. There was a war between them to establish colonies and it spread to India.

The Dutch captured Puducherry in 1693. But in 1699 the colony was returned to France through the Treaty of Ryswick.

Then France expanded its colony and included Mahe in present-day Kerala in its colony in 1720. France did not stop here, in 1731 it captured Yanam in present-day Andhra Pradesh. Karaikal is currently in Tamil Nadu and was captured by France in 1738.

Including Chandernagore in West Bengal, the total number of French colonies was 5. Puducherry was the headquarters of all these colonies. Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanam, Mahe, and Chandernagore were colonies of France in India.

On the other hand, the Britishers were taking over India by removing the Mughals from power.

Puducherry was captured by the British on 16 January 1761 during the Anglo-French War. However, due to the Treaty of Paris in 1763, it was returned to the French. But during the French Revolution, the British again captured this place in 1793 but returned it in 1814.

It continued like this, till 1850 British established complete dominance over India. However, the British allowed the land (Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanam, Mahe, and Chandernagore) that was captured by the French to remain with the French.

What happened to the French colony after the independence of India?

After independence, India was divided into two countries, India and Pakistan. Everyone has the right to choose their future. Those who wanted to go to Pakistan could go to Pakistan and those who wanted to stay in India could stay in India, there were no restrictions. 

India became independent in 1947 and in 1948 an agreement was signed between France and India. The agreement included that elections should be held in the French colonies in India and the people of the French colonies in India should get the right to choose their political future.

On 1 November 1954, Puducherry and the rest of the French colonies in India were transferred to India. The Treaty of Cessation was signed on 28 May 1956 by the President of India, in which it was mentioned that the French colonies in India should be made Union Territories so that they could get special rights.

French rule ended after 280 years and Puducherry became officially an integral part of India in 1963 after the French Parliament in Paris ratified the Treaty with India. And the colonies of France in India in different states remained the same and became Union Territories.

Therefore today it is part of three different states of South India (Tamil Nadu – Puducherry, Karaikal; Andhra Pradesh – Yaman; Kerala – Mahe). 

Chandernagore of West Bengal is not a part of the Puducherry Union Territory today because it was included in West Bengal after the independence of India. That’s why Puducherry is made up of four districts: Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam.