French people in India

The French community in India is made up of Indian citizens with French ancestry. These people come from families that settled in the Indian subcontinent starting in the 17th century. Many of their ancestors were former French settlers and colonists.

Today, there are also recent expatriates from France living in India. These are people from France who have moved to India for work, study, or other reasons. Together, these groups form the French community in India, connecting the two countries through history and culture.

History

Main article: French India

The French community in India started in 1673 when the French East India Company was created. This presence lasted until 1962 when French territories became part of India. Though the French were there for a long time, their numbers were always small compared to the British.

In 2013, about 9,950 French people lived in India. Most lived in the Puducherry district, with smaller groups in Karaikal, Mahé, Yanam, and a few other places. They made up a tiny part of the local population.

Indian French

Indian French (French: Français Indien) is a version of French spoken by people from former French colonies in India. These places include Pondicherry, Mahé, Yanam, Karaikal in Puducherry, and Chandannagar in West Bengal. This French has influences from English and local Indian languages such as Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Bengali.

There are different types of Indian French, depending on where people came from in India. Some examples include Tamil, Telugu, and Malayali speakers who now live in France or in their home regions.

Examples of Indian French

Indian French sounds a bit different from standard French in how words are pronounced and includes a few special words.

Current status

Today, Pondicherry still has a community of French people living in the city. There are about 6,500 French people in South India, with most of them in Pondicherry.

French companies in India work in many areas like energy, technology, environment, cars, and making things by hand. Big brands like L’Oréal and Louis Vuitton also have places in India.

The French community in India is united by groups that help share French culture. One example is the French Club of Bombay, which brings together people who speak French and meet in different parts of Mumbai.

Notable people

Here are some well-known people with French connections to India:

• Abhishiktananda (born Henri Le Saux) was a French Benedictine monk.
• Mirra Alfassa, known as "The Mother", worked closely with the spiritual leader Sri Aurobindo.
• Yvonne Artaud was a French educator, artist, and psychologist.
• Andre Beteille, born in 1934, became a well-known Indian sociologist.
• Pierre Ceyrac was a French priest who did important charitable work.
• Christabel Chamarette served as a senator in Western Australia and was born in India to French ancestors.
• Alain Daniélou was a French historian and expert on Indian culture.
• François Gautier is a writer and journalist living in India.
• Catherine Grand was the wife of Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, the first Prime Minister of France.
• Maïna Kataki started a charity called Samarpan Ashram.
• Kalki Koechlin was a French actress born in Pondicherry.
• Jules Monchanin, also called Swami Paramarubyananda, was a French priest and monk who lived simply.
• Pavitra was an early follower of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother.
• Satprem was a writer.
• Cyril Desbruslais was a Jesuit priest, playwright, and author.
• Andreanne Nouyrigat is a French actress living in Pondicherry.