With the dawn of a new year, the Union Territory can look forward to consolidate on some tangible gains while avoiding pitfalls of the year past.
While the renewed thrust on cleanliness and improvement in law and order are positive take-aways after a downslide in recent times, the UT is lagging in the Smart City race after being the first to move off the blocks when the mission was announced.
Week-end tourism, the mainstay of visitor footfalls, remained strong and only suffered a blip during the first fortnight of the demonetisation rollout. And, 2016 also saw the UT’s reputation as a culturally vibrant hub shine through with eclectic art, dance and music shows.
S. Senthalir, S. Prasad and M. Dinesh Varma provide a quick recap of some of the things the year would most be remembered for.
New Lt. Governor
Puducherry witnessed a new Lt. Governor assuming charge and revival of the Congress rule in 2016. Kiran Bedi assumed charge on May 29 as the Lt. Governor and in an unprecedented measure threw open the gates of the Raj Nivas for public grievance hearings and has been going about with an avowed commitment to making Puducherry garbage free in keeping with the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and an Open Defecation Free (ODF) place.
Nellithope by-election
Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy, a non Member of the House became Chief Minister on June 6 heading a six-member Congress Ministry, with the blessings of the party high command.
On November 19, when faced with a make-or-break electoral battle in the Assembly by-election in Nellithope, Mr. Narayanasamy registered a thumping win over the AIADMK rival to ensure continuance as Chief Minister.
But, the by-election was not without high drama as Income Tax authorities carried out two raids at the residence of Congress leader and incumbent legislator A. John Kumar who vacated the seat for Mr. Narayanasamy.
The Théâtre du Soleil
The Theatre du Soleil, co-founded by iconic figure in European theatre Ariane Mnouchkine, held a workshop from January 2 to 28, 2016, in the Indianostrum. Nearly 50 artists of the famous company participated.
Café Lune closes
Café Lune, one of the last colonial vestiges, that has witnessed the last leg of French period was closed down on December 27, 2016. Café Lune was star ted in 1961 selling tea at six paisa. It was the only shop in the Boulevard Town in 1961 opened by the Cluny Hospital. In 1963, it was moved to the current location. It was the first shop in Puducherry to sell idiyappam. Though a French name, the moon denotes the Islamic spirit. It remains a shop run by Muslims that serves only vegetarian food in the French quarters.
Photo expo
From the stories of whalers from faraway Lofoten Island in Norway to the fishermen in Puducherry, the 400 photographs told different stories on the one theme ‘water’.
P ondyArt Foundation organised the second edition of the photo festival organised from August 27 to September 11 with several workshops, film screenings, community outreach programmes and cultural performances including a rock concert. The grand opening was held at Old Port in Puducherry. Renowned photographers, including Cheryl Newman former Photography Director of the Telegraph magazine, London, had come down to Puducherry for the festival.
French writer
Alliance Francaise hosted award-winning French writer Jean Noel Orengo, author of the feted ‘La Fleur du Capital’ whi ch bagged the Prix de Flore prize in 2015. The debut work running into about 700 pages offers a contrarian perspective of the Thai city of Pattaya often branded a city of sleaze, crime and exploitation.
DJ workshop
Music enthusiasts in Puducherry chanced upon a free workshop to learn about scratch and electronic dance music. Alliance Francaise in November, 2016, had organised three workshops when renowned French musician and turntablist Jean du Voyage was in the town. Apart from workshop, there was a conference and music concert held during his stay at the Alliance Francaise of Pondicherry fromNovember 17 to 20.
