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Destination Puducherry

Pondicherry becomes Puducherry. DEEPA H RAMAKRISHNAN talks to a cross-section of people about the name change

PHOTO: T. SINGARAVELOU

WELCOMING CHANGE The entrance arch to Pondicherry, near JIPMER.

Ours is a small town on the Coromandel Coast, around 164 km from Chennai. It used to be a village of fishermen and weavers, which was later occupied by European powers such as the Portuguese, the Dutch, the British and lastly, the French. Over the centuries, names we have had many — Pollochire, Poulecere, Puducheira, Pouducherry, Pondicherry and now, Puducherry

As a bustling little "minipolis" aiming at expanding our IT and tourism infrastructure and refurbishing our image, we have gone in for a name change. With the President APJ Abdul Kalam giving assent to The Pondicherry (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2006, which was passed by both the Houses of Parliament, Pondicherry has been re-christened Puducherry.

The Union Territory of Pondicherry is now known as the Union Territory of Puducherry and wherever the name Pondicherry is mentioned in the Indian Constitution and in the Union Territories Act of 1963, it will be changed to Puducherry.

Puducherry, according to historians and scholars was Poudhucherry, but someone somewhere misspelt it as "Ponducherry", which later came to be "Pondicherry". We spoke to people from different walks of life on what they feel about the name change and here is what they said.

Writer and historian, Prapanchan said, "The area from Bahour to Ariyankuppam was originally known as Puducai but when threatened by the sea, people moved to safer ground, which is present-day Puducherry. This place has a history dating back over 1,000 years. I welcome the move to revert to its original name."

Tamil scholars and lovers of the language have been clamouring for a change. The Tamil Development Action Committee (Tamizh Valarchi Nadavadikkai Kuzhu), headed by Thirumurugan, has been fighting for the cause since 1977. "The territorial Assembly passed two resolutions, one in 1980 and the other in 1996, but there was no follow-up with the Centre. When Prof. M. Ramadass became MP, he took efforts to get the name changed, which seems to have paid off," said Thirumurugan.

"Now that the President has given his assent and the Government of India has published the change of name in the Gazette, the Ministry of Home Affairs will issue a notification. Thereafter the Government of Puducherry will issue a Gazette notification," explained Prof. M. Ramadass, MP.

INTACH Co-convenor, Ajit Koujalgi said, "Interestingly, it is another phase for Pondicherry and we hope it will change the face of the Union Territory for the better. We must continue to strive to preserve and protect the city's heritage and feel proud to live in such a beautiful place with a glorious past."

Puducherry Munnetra Congress MLA K. Lakshminarayanan said, "Since we believe in Pondicherry's individuality, we have named our party Puducherry M Congress. But, despite the change, the name Pondicherry or Pondy will continue to be used by the common man."

Reddiarpalayam CPI MLA Viswanathan said the change of name was necessary. "Our party had declared that Pondicherry would be Puducherry even before all these steps were taken. The names of many places have been changed (Bombay to Mumbai, Calcutta to Kolkata and Madras to Chennai). So I don't think it would be a problem for people to accept the change."

Now coming to the common man, Selvam, an autodriver, felt the change was unnecessary. "What's wrong with the present name," he asked and even when apprised of the facts, felt that sticking to Pondicherry wasn't wrong since it has been in use for many years. A flower seller on Jawaharlal Nehru Street, Lakshmi, said she wasn't aware of the change and so weren't many others.

Sridhar, an engineer, who welcomed the decision, said that over the past five years, Pondicherry had made considerable improvements in all fields; the change in name was another positive move.

Sriram, a school-teacher, hailed the decision. "The name is part of our cultural and linguistic identity. It would mean changing our history and geography books but it doesn't matter."

Vasantha, a homemaker, said that the change would only be an unnecessary cost to the exchequer. "They will have to change the name boards and signs. Even shops and commercial establishments will have to change their boards. Official signs and letter heads will also have to be changed," she said.

Mahesh, employed in a private concern, said instead of taking up such issues, the government should focus on solving the unemployment problem and providing basic infrastructure to the people.

Bhavani, a school student, said, she liked the name Pondicherry. "It is a beautiful name. Puducherry sounds so odd. It will take some time to call our town by its new name."

Lenin, a college student, felt the new spelling was odd. "They could have added an `h' to the name and spelt it Pudhucherry. Puducherry sounds strange."

A tourist from France, Jean Pierre, said whatever the name, the place would remain the same. But he went on to add that it would be confusing in the beginning for many tourists.

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