French Revolution and Puducherry
There were three revolutions that changed the world beginning in the eighteenth century. One was the political revolution called the French Revolution. The second was the industrial revolution in England that industrialized the world with modern machinery. The third was the Marxist philosophical revolution in Germany that proclaimed workers’ rights.
Today (14.7.1989) is the day when the doors of the Bastille prison in Paris were broken down, which gave rise to the French Revolution. The Bill of Rights was passed in France following the French Revolution (1789). Marie Antoinette, wife of King Louis XVI, told the starving people, “If you have no bread, eat cake,” the royal family lost not only their positions but also their heads. Forty thousand members of the ruling class put their heads to the guillotine. The discrimination of upper and lower among the people was removed and the higher rights principles of “Liberty, Equality and Fraternity” were proposed by the government.
In Puducherry, which was a French colony, the status of “all peoples are equal” was declared as a result of the French Revolution. The charter was established in 1792 in a French school. The following year, the prison in Puducherry was blown up (in 1793) just as the doors of the Bastille were blown down in Paris, France.
The lyrics of Pattukottaiyar, “The clothes and weapons you bear, the prison door that tells many stories, if you have power, will laugh at you” is the history of broken prison doors in France and Puducherry. At the same time, a tree was also planted in front of the Governor’s House in Puducherry with the name of Liberation Tree. All welfare programs resulting from the French Revolution were implemented in Puducherry for the first time in its colonial countries after France.
As this day is celebrated as a festival in France, it was also celebrated in Puducherry during the French era. The people of Puducherry called this day “King’s Festival” as they claimed that the power of the king belonged to the people. It was customary in Puducherry to celebrate this day, which gave birth to the French Republic, as the “Great King’s Day” and the day when the peace treaty was signed after the end of World War I was called “Chinnaraja Day”.
In Puducherry these celebrations will start from the first day. 21 bombs will be fired on the evening of the first day. The next day, the Governor of French India will accept the ranks of all ranks, including the army and police. Then, from morning to evening, there will be various races for the public. They dress up in different colors and shapes and perform a dance called “Muskiratu”. On the Puducherry beach where the Nehru statue is now there was a statue of Duplay who was then the Governor of French India. A large number of people from the surrounding areas of Puducherry come to the beach carrying rice and carts.
A very tall greased bald tree was planted near the statue of Duplay, and the top of it was tied with gifts, and the youths competed to take it and wiped the greased pole with straw, one after the other climbed up, and suddenly the person at the top slipped, and all slipped down, and the assembled crowd cheered. handstand Also, races like running, jumping, shot put (Bethong) etc. will be held. Duck races, boat races, sledding etc. will also be held regularly.
Winners will be awarded by the governor in the evening. Fun races like sledding, triangle climbing etc. will also be held. At night all the places are decorated with decorative colored lights. There will also be fireworks at 10pm. Along with that, the Raja festival of the Republic will be completed. It is true that then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru said that Puducherry is the window of France. But now they are all history and old memories.
Periyar in Pondicherry
"A Song without any rhyme" - Bharadhidasan
