Puducherry

Pondicherry and Karaikal restored to France

After the Napoleonic Wars, Britain returned Pondicherry, Karaikal and the other French settlements in India to France in 1816.

Subramania Bharati goes into exile in Pondicherry

Facing an arrest warrant, the poet and journalist Subramania Bharati moved to French-ruled Pondicherry, where he lived for about ten years.

Sri Aurobindo settles in Pondicherry

Facing continued British repression, Bengali nationalist Aurobindo Ghose moved to French Pondicherry in April 1910.

French India transferred de facto to India after the Kizhoor referendum

After the Kizhoor referendum, Pondicherry, Karaikal, Yanam and Mahe passed de facto from France to the Indian Union.

De jure transfer of the French settlements to India

Once France ratified the Treaty of Cession, Pondicherry and the other former French settlements legally became part of India.

Auroville inaugurated near Pondicherry

The experimental international township of Auroville was inaugurated in Viluppuram district with delegates from 124 nations.

Arrest of the Kanchi Shankaracharya

Jayendra Saraswathi of the Kanchi math was arrested in the Sankararaman murder case; he and the other accused were acquitted in 2013.

Cyclone Thane strikes Cuddalore and Puducherry

Thane, a very severe cyclonic storm, crossed the coast between Cuddalore and Puducherry, wrecking homes, crops and trees.

Cyclone Nivar makes landfall near Marakkanam

Cyclone Nivar crossed the north Tamil Nadu coast near Marakkanam, flooding parts of Chennai during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cyclone Fengal brings record rain to Viluppuram

Cyclone Fengal crossed the coast near Puducherry and caused extreme rainfall, flooding and a landslide in northern Tamil Nadu.