Yanam: Difference between revisions

Yanam or Yanaon is a district of the Union territory of Pondicherry and a town in that district. It forms a 30 km² enclave in the district of East Godavari in Andhra Pradesh. It has a population of 32 000, most of whom speak Telugu and to a meagre extent Tamil.

Lat: 16°42'N - 16°46'N; Lon: 82°11'E - 82°19'E.

Temperatures in Yanam range from 27°C to 45°C in summer and 17°C to 28°C in winter. In the hot season humidity rates vary between 68% and 80%. The district lies in the delta of Godavari River, the town is situated where the river meets its tributary Koringa River, 9 kilometers from the Bay of Bengal coast.

Apart from the town of Yanam itself, the following villages fall under the district's jurisdiction: Agraharam, Darialatippa, Farampeta, Guerempeta, Jambavanpeta, Kanakalapeta, Kurasampeta and Mettakur.

See also: French India

In 1723 Yanam was the third French colony established in India. It is mentioned in the book, The botanic garden of Yanam (Le Jardin Botanique de Yanaon) by Médecin-colonel Alfred-Alphonse-Léon Bigot(Colonel A. Bigot), that at first, the French establishment of a warehouse here in 1723 A.D. The La Compagnie des Indes Orientales of France established here a trading post of theirs.In 1724, Asaf Jah I, governor of Hyderabad, declared his independence from the disintegrating Mughal Empire, claiming the title of Nizam al Mulk of Hyderabad. Asif ad-Dawlah Mir Ali Salabat Jang, the son of the Nizam al Mulk, who was indebted for his elevation to the throne to the French East India Company, granted the district of Kondavid or Guntur to the French in return for their services, and soon afterwards the other Circars. A `Firman' was issued by the Mughal emperor, confirming all the concessions made to the French by Salabat Jang, the Subedar of Deccan. These concessions were in the shape of the donations and the name `Inam'(Gift) was changed into Yanam (Yanaon) by the French in the course of time.

People say that this region was presented to Mr. Marquis De Bussy, the French General by Vizianagaram King Pusapati Peda Vijaya Rama Raju as a token of gratitude for the help rendered by Mr. Bussy in the fight against the rulers of Bobbili.Actually,It was in 1750 when French leader Marquis De Bussy was staying with entire battalion near Hyderabad. Many soldiers have died due to some disease (Masuchi). He was running with financial crisis. Vijyaramaraju of Vizianagaram helped him to overcome financial crisis and rebuild his battalion. In 1756 Mr.Bussy visited Rajahamundy. It is heard that Vijayaramaraju has given a warm welcome to Bussy by going in front at Rajahmundy.At that time Bobbili Maharajas were ruling with full power. There are some differences between Bobbili Maharajas and Vizianagaram Rajas regarding power. Because of those differences and some reasons Bobbili battle started in January 23rd 1757. The war was fought between the Rajah of Vizianagaram, Vijayaramaraju aided by the French General Marquis De Bussy and the Rajah of Bobbili. During the battle entire Bobbili fort got destroyed and many Bobbili soldiers died in the battle. Even now we can see a street named after `Bussy' in Yanam. It is believed that Bussy had stayed in a certain building in this street.

Since the business became slack and commercial operations had not produced the desired results, Yanam was given up in 1727. Because between 1720 and 1741, the objectives of the French were purely commercial.

In the west of Yanam, we can find `Neelikundilu' (Indigo wells). People say that the Dutch constructed a fort here and it is called by locals as 'saali kota'. In this fort, they used to keep their currency, minted in the mint at Neelapalli, a near by village.

Actually it was seized again by Dupleix in 1731 during the time of Pierre Benoît Dumas the then Governor General of French Establishments of India. A parwana from Haji Hassan Khan authorized the French Representative Fouquet, then chief of the Company at Machilipatnam to set up a 'loge' at Yanam in the year 1731. Nawab Roustoum khan granted a Paravana dated 1735 for French Commerce in Yanam. But it was re-established completely in 1742 during the reign of Mughal emperor Muhammed Shah. After 1742 political motives began to overshadow the desire for commercial gain. All factories were fortified for the purpose of defence. Mr.DE Choisis administered it. He died here on 27th October 1747.Monsieur Sinfray succeeded him. The annual rent was waived off by a document in 1743 for Yanam. Mir Mohamed Ali khan Walajah, Nawab of Arcot, granted all the rights on the lands situated before the quarters at Yanam in 1747. Unfortunately necessary details are not available for this period i.e. from 1723 to 1750. Muhyi ad-Din Muzaffar Jang Hidayat, Nizam of Hyderabad(1750-1751), confirmed the sovereignty of this territory in 1750 to the French.

In 1753, a Paravana of Asif ad-Dawlah Mir Ali Salabat Jang, Subedar of Deccan conceded to Bussy the paraganas of Chicacole, Ellore, Rajahmundry etc. with an annual revenue RS.2, 00,000 for the maintenance of the French troops in the Subah in recognition of the help of these Circars amounted up to 10 lakhs of Rupees per year. Mr.Bussy helped Salabat Jang to be the Subedar of Deccan. The agreement made between the French and Salabat Jang in Aurangabad bears the signature of Said Loukshur, Minister of Salabat Jang. Yanam acquired considerable improtance during the occupation of the Northern Circars by the French.

There is again a dearth of information regarding this place from 1753 to 1765. Another important event in the history was the war between the French and the English fought at Chandurthi in 1758 in which the French were defeated .Salabat Jang made a treaty with British and gave the Northern Circars under a firmana (Firman) to English. Later Nizam rebelled against the English. A second treaty was the result of war and Northern Circars remained permanently under the control of British.After 1760 French lost hold in South India, especially on Northern Circars.In 1765 Lord Robert Clive, the then existing Chief and Council at Vizagapatam obtained from the Mughal emperor Shah Alam a grant of the five Circars.

A document dated 15th May, 1765 showed that the villages of Yanam and Kapulapalem with other lands were handed over by Jean white hill and George Dolben, the English men deputed by Mr.Jean Pybus, the head of the English settlement in Masulipatam to Mr.Yoan Yacques Panon, French Commissioner deputed by Jean Law de Lauriston the then Governor General of Pondicherry, for taking them over. This document mentions that France entered into possession of Yanam and its dependent territories with exemption from all export and import duties.

Soon after taking possession of this settlement, Mr.Panon obtained a paravana from the ruler of Rajahmundry granting the French full liberty of trade at Yanam and another one from the Nawab Mir Nizam Ali Khan Bahadur(Asaf Jah II) calling upon the Zamindars of the Circar Mustafanagar not to hinder the commerce of the French.

Yanam was situated in the province of Peddapuram in the jurisdiction of Sri Raja Vatsavaya Kala Thimma Jagapathi Bahadhoor(Timma Raja). The French had a modest building here situated a league from the sea, on the river Coringa into which small vessels could enter. The documents of 1765 throw light on a dispute of a weekly market or fair in Yanam. A weekly market used to be held here on every Tuesday (Even now market occurs in Yanam on this Tuesday only). People used to come to it for purchasing all their essential commodities once for a week.

Neelapalli, a neighboring village of Yanam was under the British at that time. It is nearly 3 KM. Away from Yanam. The people in this village also used to hold a fair on Tuesday. Thus there was a clash of interests between Yanam and Neelapalli. After prolonged correspondence with the English authorities at Madras, the French authorities in Yanam succeeded in changing the fair of Neelapalli to another day of the week, Saturday. In this way, Yanam triumphed over its neighboring village Neelapalli.

Between 1778 and 1783,Pondicherry was under British occupation. There is again lack of information because of its subsequent English Occupation. Yanam was restored again to the French in 1785. Mr.Mallhendre took possession of it and Mr.Bluter succeeded him. It was recommended to them to favor the business of the French East India Company and to protect the interest of some specified merchants.

After Bluter, Mr.Pierre Sonnerat (Aug 18, 1748 – Mar 31, 1814) became the chief in 1790 in Yanam. He was a scholar. He had a profound interest in Natural Sciences. He wrote a book "VOYAGE AUX INDES ORIENTALES ET À LA CHINE” In 3 volumes. He appreciated very much the Sonority and the Music of the Telugu language. He administered Yanam during the time of the French Revolution.

The French revolution had its effects in different ways in all the former French settlements. The French trade at Yanam was considerable at that time. Jean Law de Lauriston, Governor of Pondicherry (1765-1766) stated in his "Memoire of 1767" as “It is from Yanam that we get out best ‘guiness’ (fine cloth). It is possible to have a commerce here worth more than a million lives per year under circumstances more favorable than those in which we are placed now, but always by giving advances much earlier, which we have never been in a position to do. From this place we also procured teakwood, oils rice and other grains both for the men as well as for the animals. A port from commerce, Yanam enjoyed another kind of importance.The advantages which may be derived in a time of war from the alliances that we the French may conclude with several Rajas who sooner or later cannot fail to be dissatisfied with the English. Although the English gained an effective control over the Circars, Yanam enabled the French to enter into secret relations with the local chieftains. Yanam had some commercial importance”.

It was a center for the manufacture of salt and this salt constituted the major part of the quantity imported by the French into Bengal region. It was also an important center of cotton goods and supplied a large part of the return cargo of the French ships visiting India. A few French citizens in Yanam were fully occupied by these two kinds of profitable business and they had no interest in political and administrative matters that were left entirely to the chief or commandant. Indian residents wanted nothing better than to be left in peace to carry on their trading activities.

Mr. Pierre Sonnerat, Chief of Yanam, was involved in this business along with other traders. His commercial involvement brought serious consequences to his administrative post. The petitions were made against him in this connection, to the Chavalier De Fresne the then French Governor in Pondicherry. On 5.6.1790 a French man De Mars complained against him for the first time.

By that time, Pondicherry under the influence of the French Revolution had already formed the Ist representative committee. But no action was taken in favor of De Mars either by the Governor or by this Ist committee. Naturally, the French citizens in Yanam were disinterested in the affairs of Pondicherry owing to his failure.

Once again French lost control over Yanam may be due to British. During 1793 and 1816 Pondicherry was under British control. Once again French lost control over Yanam may be due to British. So, Yanam fell thrice into the hands of the British. After the Napoleonic wars, by the Treaty of Paris (1814) Yanam along with the factory at Machilipatnam was finally returned to the French 26th September 1816.From then it was continuously under the control of French till it got independence.

It was previously also called as kalyanapuram.Because many andhra people come and do marriages(mainly Child marriage)here since French government does not oppose child marriages.In 1936, Yanam Population is just 5,220.

After the British Raj became independent in 1947 Yanam remained under French control till June 13 1954, when it joined the Republic of India.

A treaty of cession was signed by the two countries in May 1956. It was ratified by the French parliament in May 1962. On August 16, 1962 (De Jure Day) India and France exchanged the instruments of ratification under which France ceded to India full sovereignty over the territories it held. Pondicherry and the other enclaves of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam came to be administered as the Union Territory of Pondicherry from July 1, 1963 (De Facto Day).

Conditions became intolerable in Yanam after its mayor and other representatives of Yanam adopted the merger resolution. The mayor, deputy mayor, and over 200 people took refuge in the adjacent areas of the Indian Union. Police and hired hoodlums from Yanam assaulted refugees on Indian soil. It was then that the refugees marched into Yanam under the leadership of Mayor Satyanandam and took over the administration. After hoisting the Indian National Flag, they adopted a resolution declaring Yanam "liberated."

First Laurel Poet of Andhra, Chellapilla Venkata Kavi (1870-1950), One of the duo of the famous Tirupati Venkata Kavulu lived here. Many poets such as the late Villa Reddi Naidu, V.Venkataswami Naidu and Samatam Krishtayya lived here and wrote many books in Telugu.

Famous politician in early 20th Century, Bezawada Bapa Naidu (Former Maire De Yanaon), was very famous person in his times and he was murdered in Pondicherry. One of his 7 counsilers was Bouloussou Soubramaniam Sastroulou (Former Conseil Municipale De Yanaon), was very prominent personality and loyal follower of Bapa Naidu. Mr.Bouloussou had been one of Jurés De Yanaon and even he worked as Diwan for "Manyam Zamindar" before being elected as Counsillor . His wife Bouloussou Sooriya Cantam was own sister of former Revenue minister of Madras, Kala Venkata Rao. Mr Bouloussou Died in 1941.

Bapa Naidu's bitter opponent Kamichetty Venugopala Rao Naidu was also a famous leader and had been in politics in French Yanaon. His son Kamichetty Parasurama Varaprasada Rao Naidu (Former MLA and Speaker, Pondicherry) dominated Yanam politics after its independance for almost four decades. He was elected as MLA more than five times and even had been speaker for Pondicherry. He was an very influential figure in Yanam politics until his death.

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