On May 19, during his official visit to the Cannes Film Festival in France, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Shri Anurag Thakur paid a visit to the Allard Square in Saint-Tropez.
- He paid floral tributes to Maharaja Ranjit Singh (the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire), Jean-Francois Allard (a general in Singh’s army) and Allard’s spouse Princess Bannu Pan Dei. Mr Thakur is a member of Parliament from Himachal Pradesh.
Saint-Tropez connection with Himachal Pradesh
- Saint-Tropez (France) has a historical connection with the state of Himachal Pradesh.
- Saint-Tropez was a military stronghold and fishing village until the beginning of the 20th century.
- It was the first town on its coast to be liberated during World War II as part of ‘Operation Dragoon’.
- General Jean-François Allard was born in Saint-Tropez. He served in the Napoleon army and fought in the Battle of Waterloo.
- Forced into exile after Napoleon’s downfall, he served under Maharajah Ranjit Singh in Punjab, where he felt deeply in love with Princess Bannu Pan Deï, who was born in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh.
- They married and had seven children.
- In June 1834, Allard returned to France on leave, but returned 18 months later.
- He continued to serve the Maharaja until his death in 1839 in Peshawar.
- Princess Bannu and her children remained in the Saint-Tropez palais until her death in 1884.
Fauj-i-khas
- Maharaja Ranjit Singh undertook the modernisation of his army, which led them to command the Fauj-i-khas, that in 1826 comprised 10,000 men in 4 infantry regiments, 3 cavalry regiments, and one unit of modern artillery.
- In 1827, 15,000 men were under French command in this army.
- Jean-Francois Allard and Jean-Baptiste Ventura were the notable commanders of Fauj-i-Khas.
(Source: Indian Express)
