politics and social conflicts in french india

367 Pages·2012·2.29 MB·English

POLITICS AND SOCIAL CONFLICTS IN FRENCH INDIA:
1870-1939

Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the
Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

BY

A. SURESH M.A., M. Phil.

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
PONDICHERRY UNIVERSITY
PUDUCHERRY-605014
INDIA
2010
Dr.G.CHANDHRIKA,
Professor and Supervisor,
Department of History,
Pondicherry University,
Puducherry-605014.

CERTIFICATE

Certified that the thesis, “Politics and Social Conflicts in French India:
1870-1939” submitted by Mr.A.Suresh for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, is a
bonafide record of the research work done by him during his period of study at the
Pondicherry University for the deegree, and that it has not previously formed the basis
for the award of any degree, diploma, associateship, or any other similar title; and that
it is an independent work done by him.

(G.Chandhrika)
Place: Puducherry
Date: 22.11.2010

Counter Signed:

(Prof.Venkata Raghotham)
Mr.A.SURESH,
Research Scholar,
Department of History,
Pondicherry University,
Puducherry-605014.

DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the thesis “Politics and Social Conflicts in French India:
1870-1939” submitted by me for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History, is a
record of research work carried out by me during the period November, 2004 to July
2010, under the guidance of Dr.G.Chandhrika, Professor, Department of History,
Pondicherry University, and that the thesis has not formed the basis for the award of any
degree, diploma, associateship or other similar title; and that it is an independent work
done by me.

Place: Puducherry
Date: 22.11.2010.

(A.Suresh)

Counter Signed:

(G. Chandhrika)
CONTENTS

Acknowledgements i-ii
List of Figures iii
List of Map iii
List of Tables iii-v
Chapters Page Nos

I. Introduction 1-62

II. Emergence of Electoral Politics in French India 63-119

III. The Rise of Communal Politics 120-156

IV. The Regime of Caste 157-219

V. Birth of Anti-colonialism 220-267

VI. Conclusion 268-286

Bibliography 287-309
Biographical Notes 310-313
Glossary 314-318
Appendices 319-354
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

My sincere thanks and gratitude go to Prof.G.Chandhrika, my
research guide for giving me a chance to work under her as a research
scholar. Working along with her for this topic has been very encouraging
and allowed me to do an independent research all along. She made all
the necessary comments and suggestions in the research work in order to
highlight the questions raised in the thesis. Her critical views, sparing her
valuble time despite her busy shedule for the correction, suggestions
especially in the final stage of the research work had added depth to the
thesis work. This researcher is greatful for the help and co-operation given
by the supervisor during the days for the correction.
The present Head of the Department of History Pondicherry
University, Prof. Venkata Raghotham has been supportive in the
completion and forwarding of thesis on time. I thank him and also all the
faculty members of the Department of History for their moral support and
their encouragement of my research.
I am extremely grateful to the members of the Doctoral Committee,
Prof. S. Pannireselvame, Department of French and Dr. G. Ramathirtham,
Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, for their critical comments
and timely help. The first draft and outline of the thesis was critically
scrutinized, refined with all the minutest details by them. I am indebted to
Dr.B.Krishnamurthy, Associate Professor, Department of Politics &
i
International Studies. Without his constant encouragement and support in
the evolution of research, this work would have remaine incomplete.
Library staff of the Pondicherry University Central Library have been
very cooperative in issuing books to me. Librarians of the National
Archives, New Delhi, Romain Rolland Library, French Institute library, Ecole
Extreme Oriental Library, Pondicherry State Archives, Bharathidasan
Memorial and Research Centre, Bharathiyar Memorial and Research
Centre and Tagore Arts College, Pondicherry have been very kind in
locating books and source materials for me. I am indebted to the staff of
National Archives of India, New Delhi and National Archives of India,
Puducherry. My special thanks are due to Mr. Murugesan (Archivest),
National Archives of India, Pondicherry for his valuable assistance in
material collection.
The thesis work is the result of support I received from my parents,
my uncle M. Nedumaran and my brother A. Muruganandam. I am
indebeted to every one of them as without their constant support this
work would not have seen the light of day.

A.Suresh

ii
List of Figures Page No.

Figure 1.1 Evolutions of Trade Activities in French India 26
Figure 3.1 Registered Renonçants in Pondicherry Municipality (1882-1962) 128

Figure 4.1 Deputy Elections in French India (1871-1906) 186

List of Map
Map 1 The Former French Comptoirs in India. 16

List of Tables

Table 1.1 Areas and Population of French India 17
Table 1.2 Agricultural Statistics: Cultivation of Land 24
Table 1.3 Population of French India in 1880 and 1929 by Religious Group 32
Table 1.4 Divisions of Catholic Christians in Pondicherry in 1860 45

Table 1.5 Proportions of the European and Indian Employees in the
State Administration in 1838 50

Table 1.6 Repartition of Employees in Different Departments in 1838 50
Table 1.7 Divisions of Scholars in Collège Colonial in 1879 53
Table 1.8 Divisions of Graduates in French India by Race and Religion 54

Table 1.9 Divisions of Scholars in French India by Race and Religion in 1903 54
iii
Table 1.10 Classification of Pariah Population in Professional wise in 1860 62

Table 2.1.1 Electoral Statistics (Municipalities) in 1882-1883 72

Table 2.1.2 Electoral Statistics (Municipalities) in 1884-1885 73
Table 2.1.3 Electoral Statistics (Municipalities) in 1889 73

Table 2.1.4 Electoral Statistics (Municipalities) in 1908 74
Table 2.2.1 Composition of the Conseils Locaux in 1872 76
Table 2.2.2 Modified Composition of the Conseils Locaux in 1884 77

Table 2.2.3 Composition of the Reconstituted Conseils Locaux in 1899 77

Table 2.3.1 Composition of the Conseil Général in 1879 78

Table 2.3.2 Modified Composition of the Conseil Général in 1884 78

Table2.3.3 Composition of the Reconstituted Conseil Général in 1899 79

Table 2.3.4 Composition of the Reconstituted Conseil Général in 1934 79

Table 2.4 Results of the Deputy Election in 1849 90

Table 2.5 Results of the Deputy Election in 1871 96

Table 2.6 Elected Members of the Conseil Local of Pondicherry in 1872 102

Table 2.7 Elected Members of the Conseil Local of Karaikal in 1872 102
Table 2.8 Elected Members of the Conseil Colonial in 1872 103

Table 2.9 Results of the Pondicherry Conseil Local Election in 1879 116

Table 2.10 Results of the Conseils Locaux
(Karaikal, Chandernagor, Mahe and Yanam) Elections in 1879 117

Table 2.11 Results of the Conseil Général Election in 1879 118-119

Table 3.1 Composition of the Municipal Councils in French India in 1880 122

Table 3.2 Registered Renonçants in 1881 128

Table 3.3 Election Results in April 1882 137
iv
Table 3.4 Proportion of Electors by Religious Groups in 1883 143

Table 3.5 Electors and Electoral Councils of French India in 1884-85 144

Table 3.6 Results of the Conseil Général Election of 3rd and 17th August 1884 146

Table 3.7 Results of the Conseil Général Election of
December 1884 and January 1885 151

Table 3.8 Composition of the Conseil Général in September 1885,
After Change of Alliances 153

Table 4.1 Composition of the Conseil Général in January 1888,
After Change of Alliances 167

Table 4.2 Results of the Deputy Election in 1889 170

Table 4.3 Political Alliance in 1890 173

Table 4.4 Results of the Conseil Général Triennial Renewal Election
in December 1890 175

Table 4.5 Results of the Senatorial Election on 11th January 1891 178

Table 4.6 Registered Voters in French India in 1897 190

Table 4.7 Results of the Conseil Général Election on 21st January 1894 192

Table 4.8 Results of the Conseil Général Election on 17st January 1897 194

Table 4.9 Evolution of the Composition of Conseil Général 203

Table 4.10 Evolution of the Composition of Conseils Locaux 203

Table 4.11 Proportion of Indians in the Electoral Councils in French India 204

Table 4.12 Results of the Conseil Général Election on 22nd October 1897 207

Table 4.13 Composition of the Conseil Général in November 1905 216

Table 5.1 Results of the Deputy Election Results in
Pondicherry Settlement in 1910 235

Table 5.2 Results of the Mayor Elections in September 1911 242

v
Table 5.3 Results of the Conseil général Elections in October 1911 242

Table 5.4 Results of the Deputy Election in April 1914 245

Table 5.5 Results of the Deputy Elections in November 1919 258
vi