India and the recovery of French territories (1947-1954)

Abstract

Following India’s independence in 1947, several territories on the Indian subcontinent remained under the control of Western colonial powers. Among them, the French possessions of Chandernagore, Pondicherry, Yanam, Mahé, and Karaikal, although small in area, sparsely populated, and geographically separated, were long-standing territories symbolizing the continuity of the French colonial empire. Consequently, their recovery posed numerous difficulties and complexities for India over a seven-year period (1947-1954), as the issue involved the interests and national prestige of both sides. This study aims to clarify the complexities surrounding India’s peaceful and negotiated recovery of the French territories through three specific phases: 1947-1949, 1949-1951, and 1952-1954. The negotiation process for the recovery of the French territories formed part of India’s broader effort to consolidate and affirm its national sovereignty. It was at once a matter of national pride and a demonstration of the determination of a newly independent state to safeguard its sovereignty. Through persistence, adherence to principles, and firmness in negotiation, France ultimately withdrew from its remaining small territories and transferred sovereignty to the Government of India.