Duplex Mansion

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Hooghly river and its prosperous banks have always attracted Europeans for trading and colonization. Chandannagar, not far from Calcutta in West Bengal was one of the prominent French colonies in India. Though France handed it over to India in 1950, Chandannagar plays an important role in colonial history of India. French Governor Duplex who played an important role in the history of late Mughal India was first posted in Chandannagar on behalf of French East India Company. He made Chandannagar his residence and built a French mansion. It was from here that he rose to power. It was from here that Duplex saw India as a long term potential for French economy. He was the first European chief in India who hired natives in French military as Sepoys or part of infantry. Though Lord Clive later laid the foundation of English domination in India but it was Duplex's strategies that Clive adopted. Today, Duplex mansion has been converted to a French museum for public and the building is maintained by ASI.