Ananda Ranga Pillai's diary: conflict in church

Here is another entry from Ananda Ranga Pillai's diary. I find the relationship between the French and the locals in regard to religion very interesting. Opacity of the relation, would say Glissant? I am not attempting to translate it into French, I don't feel qualified. And I am still hoping to post the entries in Tamul and have, for a while, a trilingual blog! Above a church in Pondicherry which could be the one mentioned in entry.

"Saturday, 16thi October 1745, or Srd Arppisi of Krodhana.—At 8 this morning the church was the scene of a remarkable occurrence. The priest of Karikal, who is on a visit to Pondichery, noticed the distinction made between the Pariah and caste Christians when attending to perform their devotions. A wall has been erected, as a barrier, on the northern side of the interior of the church. On one side of this, the Pariahs collected for worship, and on the other, caste Christians, Eurasians, and Europeans, assembled. during the service. This privilege was obtained by the Native Christians at some former time ; and the distinction of castes has been maintained up to now. The priest of Karikal, however, was offended at this
and instigated the Pariah Christians living at the Pan in Paracheri, the Big Paracheri, the Burning-ground Paracheri, and the Ozhandai Paracheri ; and also the other Pariah and toti, or village service Pariah Christians, to remonstrate. They all went in a body to His Reverence the senior priest, and complained in these words: " If we are really your disciples, it behoves Your Reverence to treat us all alike. The Lord makes no distinction amongst his worshippers. The caste Christians have, however, thought fit to keep us without the pale, and you have acceded to their demand. We submit that this is a partial proceeding, and we request an explanation at the hands of Your Reverence." The priest, having listened. to all this, declared that their complaint was just, and immediately ordered the demolition of the barrier wall. Addressing the assembled people, he said : " You are all my children ; you may, at your pleasure, mingle with the rest of the congregation, and attend divine worship." So saying, he dismissed them with his blessing.
Au evening service was held today in the church. No distinction of caste was made, but Pariahs, Eurasians, Europeans, and Tamilians, all mingled together, attended it. Native Christian females also came. The wife of Askrappa Mudali, the sister's son of Kanakaraya Mudali, who is in good circumstances, went to the church, decked with all the ornaments that are worn by the women of her caste, and arrayed in muslin gauze, which was perfumed. She approached the altar where the senior priest was ministering, knelt down, and was absorbed in listening to his exhortations. As soon as he smelt the sweet odour diffused by the lady's clothes, he stopped preaching, held his nose, thrust the cane which he had in his hand into her hair-knot, and angrily addressed her thus : " Art thou not a married woman? Art thou a dancing woman ? Has thy husband no sense of shame? Can chaste ladies appear at church, dressed in muslin gauze, and exhibit their limbs, bosoms, and the very hair on their bodies ? Thou art a blessed woman indeed I Thou hast attended divine service quite enough I Rise, and begone to thy house ! Having thus spoken, he commanded her to go away. Afterwards, he summoned all the caste Christians, and enjoined on the women that hereafter they should not dress themselves in thin cloths, that they should not deck themselves with ornaments of the kind worn by the Tamilians, that they should tie their hair after the manner of Eurasians, and that
they should not use any perfume. Thereupon, the Christians went in a body to the church, and argued the matter with him. Gavinivfisa VIudali came forward, and opposed any change being made in the old order of things. He said that the recent orders were not agreeable to the entire body of the community. Directions to expel this speaker by force consequently were then given : when these were about to be carried out, he stepped forward, seized the priest by the cloak, used abusive language, and then departed saying " We will not hereafter enter your church!' The Christian people then complained to Kanakargya Mudali. He pacified them, and went to see the priest, to whom he explained the difficulties of the case, and he consented to allow things to remain as they were. After Kanakargya Mudali had left, however, the priest went to the Governor, and told .him that the Christians were rebelling against his authority, were meeting in large numbers, and were setting him at defiance. He begged that an order compelling them to attend the church might be issued. The Governor sent for Krinagsi Pandit, the subordinate Police chief of the peons, and commanded him to arrest
and imprison any Christians whom he might find °assembling in a body of four or more persons, and talking with each other". Thencefor ward, crowds ceased to gather in the streets.

Sunday, [17th October 1745, or] 4th Arppisti of Kradhana.--A few people went to church this morning. A barrier of chairs was put up, to separate the Pariahs from others. It is doubtful what course things will take."

Below is a 1956 photograph of Mr Landy signing, on behalf ot the French government, Pondicherry over to India, represented by Mr Kewal Singh. End of a long story of colonization.



Contributed by Arabella Hutter, thanks to Will Greenspon's technical help.