Yanam - History

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Yanam - History

It is mentioned in the book, the botonic garden of Yanam by Colonel A. Bigot that at first, the French establishment a warehouse here in 1723 A.D. Since the business became slack, it was given up in 1727 A.D. and was re-occupied in 1742 A.D. A `Fireman' was issued by the Mughal emperar, confirming all the concessions made to the French by Salabathjung, the Subadar of Deccan.

These concessions were in the shape of the donations and the name `Inam' was changed into Yanam(Yanaon) by the French in the course of time. People say that this region was presented to Mr. Bussy, the French General by a Vijayanagara King as a token of gratitude for the help rendered by Mr. Bussy in the fight against the rulers of Bobbili. We can se his street named after `Bussy' here. It s beleived that Bussy had stayed in a certain building in this street.

In the west of Yanam, we can find `Neelikundilu'(Indiog wells) people say that the Dutch constructed a front here in which they used to keep their currency, minted in the mint at Neelapalli, a near by village.

Yanam is situated on the East Coast, in the district of East Godavary, Andhra Pradesh. It was occupied by the French in 1723. It ranks the third in the antiquity of the Five former French settlements i.e. Chandernagar 1673, 2. Pondicherry 1674, 3. Yanam 1723, 4. Mahe 1725 and Karaikal 1739. Yanam was under the French rule for more than two centuries. It was liberated in 1954. It is now one of the component parts of the Pondicherry State.

It is a small area of 8 square miles in exent, situated on the left bank of the eastern branch of the Godavary River in Andhra Pradesh. Its location is 16o43o northern longitude and 80o5 eastern longitude. It is built on a place where the river Coringa and the Godavary meet and is bounded on the East and the South by these rivers. The Godavary discharges itself into the sea 9 miles south of Yanam town. Thr coringa river divides the town into two parts.

There are 8 villages under the Municipal jurisdiction of Yanam namely Kanakalapeta, Jambavanpeta, Agraharam, Mettakur, Kursampeta, farampeta Darialtippa and Guerempeta. The cobbler community lives in Jambavanpeta. The fishermen Community lives mainly in Agraharam, Mettakur, Kuraampeta and Guerempeta. Wate for irrigation comes from Andhra Pradesh through an age-old small canal called "French Kalva". The soil is fertile for cultivation but the irrigation facilities are scanty . The main crop is paddy besied the seasonal crops of pulses, chillies and ground nuts.

This tiny town's history goes back to 1723 when the Compagnie des Indes of France established here a trading post of theirs. It was vacated after four years because their commercial operations had not produced the desired results. It was seized again in 1731 during the time of Duplex. Nabab Roustoumkhan granted a Paravana dated 1735 for French Commerce in Yanam.

It was re-established completely in 1742 and administered by DE Choisis who died here on 27th October 1747. He was succeeded by Sinfray. The annual rent was waived off by a document in 1743 for Yanam. Mir Mohamed Alikhan 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.

The sovereignity of this territory was confirmed in 1750 to the French by Musaffar Yung, Nizam of Hyderabad.

In 1753, a Paravana of Salbat Singh, Subedar of Deccan conceded to Bussy the paragaanas of Chicacole, Ellore, Rajahmundry etc. with an annual revenue RS.2,00,000 for the maintenance of the French troops in the suba in recognition of the help of these circars amounted upto 10 lakhs of Ruppes per year. Bussy helped Salbat Singh to be the Subedar of Deccan. The agreement made between the French and Salbat Singh in Aurangabad bears the signature of Said Loukshur, Minister of Salabat Singh, Yanam acquired considerable improtance during the occupation of the Northern Circors by the French.

There is again a dearth of information regarding this place from 1753 to 1765. It was under the control of the English during this period.

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

Soon after taking possession of this settlement, Panon obtained a paravana from the ruler of Rajahmundry granting the French full liberty of trade at Yanam and another one from the Nabab Nizam Ali calling upon the Samindars of the Circar Mustafanagar not to hinder the comnerce of the French.

Yanam - History

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