ABSTRACT
In Pondicherry Sher Khan Lodi transferred the land to the French without any opposition or hesitancy as there were no such things as landowners in the area, other than the sovereign of the land. Following the order of Sher Khan Lodi, Francois Martin hardly interferend in the religious affairs of the Indians in the early stages of his tenure as the Director of the French Company in Pondicherry. As Martin began to organize the French settlement in Pondicherry, he naturally felt the need to have Christian priests to cater to the spiritual needs of the French Christians. Martin had to face Dutch invasion of Pondicherry in 1693. After the recovery of Pondicherry from the Dutch in 1699, Martin was appointed as the Governor of all French possessions in India by the French king. On 30 August 1702, under pressure from the Jesuits, Martin prohibited Hindu processions in the streets.
