: The city is all decked up for the celebration of the 60 anniversary of the De facto merger day on November 1 — a red-letter day in the annals of the political and freedom movement of the Union Territory of Puducherry.
The government has drawn up elaborate programmes to mark the occasion in grand fashion. Cultural programmes and performances by troupes from the South Zone Cultural Centre in Thanjavur would be held on the Beach Road as part of the celebrations.
A photo exhibition organised by the Tourism Department detailing Puducherry’s momentous occasions in the last 60 years has been organised at the Crafts Bazaar in Gandhi Thidal.
A senior government official told The Hindu that Chief Minister N. Rangasamy would hoist the national flag at a function on the Beach promenade at 8.30 a.m. on Saturday and will take the salute from various contingents.
A logo for the celebrations would also be released by the Chief Minister.
Mr. Rangasamy announced during the Independence Day celebrations that November 1 (De facto Merger Day) would be observed from this year as a public holiday and the government would celebrate the day as Liberation Day of Puducherry.
He said the decision had been taken in keeping with the recommendations of a high-power committee constituted by the government. The committee had gone into the historical records relating to the liberation movement of Puducherry and made the recommendation which had since been implemented.
It was on November 1, 1954 that the then French establishments of Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam merged de facto with the Indian union bidding farewell to the French regime.
The merger itself was democratically decided through a referendum conducted by the French administration at the border village of Kizhur near here to ascertain the wishes of the people.
Around 178 members of the then Representative Council participated in the referendum held at Kizhur and 170 of them favoured the merger of French establishments to the Indian union. The smooth transfer of power brought to an end nearly 300 years of the French rule.
The De Jure Transfer of Power was effected on August 16, 1962.
The historic monument at Kizhur tracing the freedom struggle of Puducherry has been spruced up to celebrate Puducherry’s De facto merger with the Indian Union.
Meanwhile, pamphlets highlighting the freedom struggle have been distributed to all schools. To create a festive ambience all government buildings and monuments will be illuminated from Friday, an official said.
