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This book presents a brief overview of Pondicherry's social and political history from its origins to the merger of the territory with the Indian Union, and beyond. It has three parts: the first relates to the arrival and establishment of the French. It deals with the vicissitudes of their presence here and the way they organised the administration of this Indian region according to their norms. The second part deals with the impact of the French presence on the social body and the legal system. The third is devoted to the manner in which the French left and what remains of their influence. The book does not dwell on historical details of military feats etc; the focus is rather on the socio-political realities which have still something to teach us.  Having been in the service of the Pondicherry Government during the years after the merger, the author has lived some of the events, been associated with some others and has been called upon to play a leading role in still others. This personal knowledge is perhaps the distinctive feature of this book as compared to other books on the subject.