It was after the historic referendum held at Kizhoor on October 18, 1954, that the French decided to handover the reigns of four territories—Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanam, and Mahe—to India.
Kizhoor, a remote village in Mangalam constituency that hosted a peaceful referendum that ultimately led to the liberation of Puducherry from French control and its merger with India, is yet to get its due significance in the affairs of the Union Territory.
Though the French decided to liberate Puducherry from its control following India’s independence in 1947, it was after the historic referendum held at Kizhoor on October 18, 1954, that the French decided to handover the reigns of four territories—Puducherry, Karaikal, Yanam, and Mahe—to India. Subsequent to the vote, on November 1, the territories of French India were transferred to India de facto.
The majority decision of the House of Representatives and Municipal Councils who attended the referendum led to the final transfer of power of the four territories to the Indian government on August 16, 1962, after the French government ratified the Treaty of Cession by its Parliament.
Considering the significance of August 16, post-Independence, the Puducherry government decided to celebrate the day every year as De jure Transfer Day.
A small shed now stands as testimony at the place in Kizhoor where the representatives voted for the merger with the Indian State. Inside the shed, there is a closed room that houses some important photographs of prominent dignitaries, including the country’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, taking part in the events preceding the liberation of Puducherry. Next to the shed, there is also a pole erected to unfurl the flag on August 16 and a plaque carrying the names of people who participated in the referendum.
“The place comes alive only twice a year, on November 1 and August 16. Otherwise, the place is forgotten, and even the museum is out of bounds for the public most days as it is open only two days a year. Successive governments have promised to make Kizhoor a landmark in UT but other than building up an asbestos shed, nothing has happened at the place. Even so, nothing is done to promote the place so that the younger generation of UT understands its significance,” S. Ravichandran, a resident of Kizhoor, said.
Written by new Sara