The Union Territory of Puducherry celebrated its 59th anniversary of the “De-Jure”day on 16th August. The Puducherry administration organized a function at the Keezhoor memorial where the referendum was signed to mark the occasion.

Background:

• The people of the union territory of Puducherry won freedom after seven more years of struggle after India became free on August 15, 1947.
• India signed an agreement with France in June 1948 which gave power to people to determine the political status of their land. 
• On March 18, 1954, members of the executive council, mayors of then Pondicherry and seven adjoining communes proclaimed their decision to merge with India without a referendum. 
• The agreement for the de facto transfer of the four remaining French settlements to India was signed on October 21, 1954 and came into effect on November 1, 1954.
• A treaty was entered into between France and India, establishing the cession by the French Republic to the Indian Union of the French establishments of Pondicherry, Karikal, Mahe and Yanam. 

About the Referendum:

• Puducherry became independent by virtue of a referendum on October 18,1954.
• The referendum was taken on October 18,1954 on whether to remain in French regime or to merge with the Indian union. 
• 178 representatives participated in the referendum in which 170 voted in favour of a merger with India and 8 against it.
• The treaty of cession signed between the French and Indian governments was ratified by the French Parliament only on August 16, 1962. So on that day the “De-Jure”(The Legal Merger of the UT with the Indian Union) was effected.
• The referendum was taken at Keezhoor near Villianur here and to commemorate the occasion a memorial was constructed at Keezhoor.