Question

Which of the following was a French centre in India ?

• A. Goa
• B. Karaikal
• C. Surat
• D. Madras

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Karaikal

French Establishments in India

• Pondicherry (Puducherry): The most prominent French colony in India, which served as the capital of French India. It was founded in 1674 under Francois Martin.

• Mahe: Located on the Malabar Coast in present-day Kerala, it was captured by the French in 1721.

• Karikal (Karaikal): Acquired by the French in 1739 on the Coromandel Coast.

• Yanam: Situated in present-day Andhra Pradesh, it came under French control in 1723.

• Chandernagore (Chandannagar): Located in West Bengal, it was a major French trading outpost established in 1673.

Historical Context

• The French East India Company (Compagnie des Indes Orientales) was established in 1664 by Jean-Baptiste Colbert under the patronage of King Louis XIV.

• The French were the last among the major European powers (Portuguese, Dutch, British, and Danes) to arrive in India for trade.

• The Carnatic Wars (1746–1763) were a series of conflicts between the French and the British for political supremacy in India. The French loss in these wars significantly curtailed their influence.

• The French settlements were formally integrated into the Republic of India following the De Facto Treaty of 1954 and the De Jure Treaty ratified in 1962.