Mahé, city of southwest India, in Pondicherry Union Territory, near the city of Calicut. The city and vicinity have an area of 9 sq km (3 sq mi) and occupy the narrow coastal plain below the two converging mountain ranges known as the Western Ghats. Mahé has a monsoon climate with warm dry winters and hot rainy summers, conducive to growing rice, coconuts, spices, and many other agricultural products. The French held Mahé from 1817 to 1954. In 1948 riots occurred when a large part of the Indian population demonstrated its desire to join the dominion of India. When French forces were landed to suppress the disturbances, thousands left the settlement. The importance of Mahé's port induced the French to make every endeavor to maintain their hold on the city, but India opposed them with a policy of economic and political pressure that continued throughout 1953 and early 1954. These measures resulted in the peaceful transfer of the settlement, together with that of the city of Yanam on the east coast, to India in July 1954. Population (1991) 33,425.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
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