dated May 3, 1950: Chandernagore taken over

The administration of Chandernagore, a French Settlement in West Bengal, was taken over by Mr. B. K. Banerjee, IAS, as its Administrator acting on behalf of the Government of India on the morning of May 2. A select gathering, including the President of the Administrative Council, Mr. Deben Das, watched the proceedings.

The change-over took place at 10-30 a.m. at the Administrator's residence on the bank of River Hooghly. The whole function was over in about five minutes. As had been agreed upon between the Governments of India and France, there was no ceremony on the occasion, but about 200 people had gathered round the Residency to witness the historic event. Mr. Banerjee, accompanied by Mr. Deben Das, arrived at the Residency at 9-45 a.m. and was received by the French Administrator, M. Tailleur. A guard of honour was presented by a West Bengal Armed Police battalion.

M. Tailleur then signed a typed script in French, handing over charge of the territory to Mr. Banerjee. The latter too signed the document. At that moment ended 250 years of foreign rule in Chandernagore. A statuette of Joan of Arc stood on the table when the document was signed.

Chandernagore was the first foreign settlement in India to free itself from colonial rule after India won its independence on August 15, 1947. The main provisions of the Treaty had been mutually agreed upon between India and France, and the document was expected to be finalised very early; with its signing, the transfer was to become complete.

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