note: this was intended to be posted on August 7th

I’ve decided to change what I am investigating here. One thing I have found is that, since India doesn’t allow dual citizenship, it complicates
So, the thing is that India became a country in 1947. The French were still occupying five cities on the subcontinent (Pondicherry, Karikal, Mahé, Yanam, and Chandernagor). Today, the first four of these cities form the Puducherry Union Territory in India, which has the status of a non-state and is governed directly by the central government—similar to Washington D.C.’s status. From 1956 to 1962 (when it was official), the French decided to leave India and let these cities be de facto ceded to India. Many of the Indian-origin people in Pondicherry were French nationals, with many finding work in other French territories like the Metropole or even Cambodia or Vietnam.
The French allowed the Indian-origin individuals to keep their French nationality if they wished, but if they wanted to have their Indian citizenship, the Indian government would have them revoke their French citizenship. Naturally, this caused a mix of opinions, as many wanted the opportunities that came with the citizenship, but some thought having French citizenship was silly because many of them weren’t “French French” – so to speak.
I think about the francophones that I have met, whether Indian-origin or French-origin, it’s generally been a good life they have had – possibly international, from living around the French territories in the world, the Metropole, and coming to India to settle or to visit. I have found so much love that people have for this land, especially amongst the Indian-origin community. It parallels my feelings about my family’s Haiti, and how when I think of my origins and my ancestors – it’s all that’s there. The unique food styles, the dance, the music – the same perceptions. 

For those that “return” to Pondicherry, having the French nationality seems to only be a tool, to have access to the Metropole’s resources. Or at least, a way to secure possible opportunities while still engaging in the culture they come from.
However, when they do that, given that they aren’t allowed Indian nationality, have no rights a citizens in India. In other modern countries like Italy and Ghana, descendants of their nationals are able to get citizenship. India has something similar, which is the Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI), a lifetime visa. One may get this if they have Indian ancestry or are married to an Indian citizen. This certainly avoids all the stress that comes with getting into India, but what about those who want to live in India? They can get home stress-free, but cannot participate in the modern state that they call their home. Sure, they could renounce their other nationalities to become only an Indian, but it doesn’t seem like most are doing this.
In 2007, there were around 6,000 French nationals living in Pondicherry alone. I have this figure, as it was noted on the Internet during the 2007 French election. 6,000 might not be much of a voting block, but what rights of a full citizen can they exercise and where? Do they need to make up the difference elsewhere?

Some questions I’ll be exploring include:

Why keep your other nationality?
How useful is your passport?
For French nationals, have the benefits expanded since from what I have read? – franco-Pondicherrians cannot get all the benefits like a suitable Army pension or financial support for school in France?
Why only come back when I retire?

What nationality would you want your children to have?

How politically active are you?
Are you able to be politically active or dissent without fear for your residency?
Could you be deported? If your OCI is canceled?

How politically active is your family?
How politically active are your friends?

For Indian nationals, do you have any family from the time who had to pick between the two nationalities?
Can anyone apply for French nationality?
There have been schemes to try getting French nationality, are you aware of any of them?

Are the connections between former French Indochina similar?