A 75-member delegation from the Association of Descendants of Captains Privateers (ADCP), an organisation of individuals authorised to engage in war against enemy vessels, settled in and around Saint Malo in Brittany in Northwestern France, on Tuesday arrived in Puducherry to trace their roots.
The members of ADCP include the descendants of captains who commanded a ship in the race during a war period with an authorisation (Letter of Marque) issued by the authorities from the 15th century to 1815 by the king before the annexation of Brittany to France.
Talking to The Hindu , on the sidelines of their visit to the French Institute of Pondicherry (IFP), V. Oudea Coumar and spouse Agnes said the association had more than 850 members who were the descendants of captain privateers.
“Our ancestors had visited Puducherry after an 18-month voyage by sea through South Africa in the early 18th century and traded cotton and spices.
Mr. Coumar is a French national of Puducherry origin while his wife Agnes is a descendant of the Captains Privateers. The delegation reached Puducherry on Tuesday after visiting various cities in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
“Our stay in Puducherry is very important and the visit is to establish our links and strengthen the existing cultural links between France and Puducherry. The delegation will also deliberate on holding scientific exchanges,” Mr. Coumar added.
The delegation will also visit Volontariat , a non-governmental organisation, the International French School of Pondicherry ( Lycee Francais de Pondicherry) and the Raj Nivas on Wednesday.
