French India

views updated

French India, former overseas territory of France in India, composed of the coastal enclaves of Pondichéry (now Puducherry), Karikal (now Karaikal), Yanaon (now Yanam), and Mahé (now Mahe) in the south and the inland trade settlement of Chandannagar near Kolkata (Calcutta). They were administered from the capital at Pondichéry. For the later history of the territory, see Puducherry.