The actions of the association for the safeguard of Pondicherry and of the French heritage in India
Protect, restore, support, bring together
To save this shared heritage, it is necessary to mobilise every contribution and to act very fast.
Founded in 1995, Friends of Pondicherry Heritage’s goals are:
- To protect and restore the ancient houses in Pondicherry’s historical center
- To support every public or private initiative that respects this background
- To bring all those who care for the safeguard and influence of the French legacy in India together
Publications:
Friends of Pondicherry heritages' first meeting
After a first meeting of Friends of Pondicherry heritage in 1993, a charter about the protection and restoration of Pondicherry’s architectural an urban heritage has been written in French and English, then dispensed to Indian and French authorities as to the larger public. Support was granted to this charter by the Ecole Française d’Extrême-Orient (Mrs Françoise L’Hernault) and by the INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage). Since 1993, our first action was the restoration of the bandstand’s steel gate in Pondicherry’s central garden with help from the Rotary Club.
Heritage awards have been accorded to Pondicherry
From 1996 to 2004, nine Heritage awards have been accorded to Pondicherry to encourage the Tamil-French city’s protection and restoration. This initiative has permitted to sensitive all the directly or not directly concerned actors to the preservation of our common roots. Beginning with owners of ancient houses, public authorities, general public and that thanks to the important manifestations during the award ceremonies:
- In Paris, within the framework of the Assemblée Générale des Vieilles Maisons Françaises
- In Pondicherry under the presidence of Dr Nallam (president of our association in India) and/or Mr Charles-Hubert de Brantes (president of our association in France), those events were largely brought back by the local medias (written press/TV)