UPSC Prelims 2010 Q140: Modern History – Advent Of Europeans & British Expansion
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 only
Explanation
Pondicherry's colonial history: checking three claims
Pondicherry (Puducherry) passed through the hands of multiple European colonial powers before becoming a lasting French possession.
| Statement | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The Portuguese were the first European power to occupy Pondicherry | Correct | The Portuguese were indeed the first European power to establish a presence in Pondicherry, in the early colonial period |
| 2. The French were the second European power to occupy it | Incorrect | Historically, the Dutch occupied Pondicherry before the French established their lasting colony there, making the French not strictly the 'second' power |
| 3. The English never occupied Pondicherry | Incorrect | The English DID occupy Pondicherry at various points, particularly during the Anglo-French colonial wars |
Pondicherry's colonial sequence:
| Power | Role |
|---|---|
| Portuguese | First European occupants |
| Dutch | Occupied before the French established lasting control |
| French | Eventually established lasting colonial rule |
| English | Did occupy it at various points (Anglo-French wars) |
Answer: (a) 1 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. The Portuguese genuinely were the first European power in Pondicherry; the other two statements contain inaccuracies.
- (b) Incorrect. Statement 3's claim that the English never occupied it is false, so '2 and 3 only' is wrong.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 3's English-never-occupied claim is false.
- (d) Incorrect. Statements 2 and 3 are both inaccurate, so 'all three' cannot be correct.
Key point
The Portuguese were genuinely the first European power to occupy Pondicherry — but the Dutch, not the French, came second, and the English DID occupy Pondicherry at various points during the Anglo-French colonial wars.
Remember
Pondicherry: Portuguese were the first European occupants — but the Dutch (not French) came second, and the English did occupy it at various points.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the French were the second colonial power, missing the earlier Dutch presence.
- Not knowing the English occupied Pondicherry at various points, contrary to the 'never occupied' claim.
- Oversimplifying Pondicherry's colonial history into just a Portuguese-to-French narrative.
Exam tip
Pondicherry's colonial sequence: Portuguese first, then Dutch, then eventually lasting French rule — with the English also occupying it at various points.
Sources
- NCERT — Modern Indian History, European colonial settlements in India
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Puducherry