Indian police kepis
Prime Minister Nehru seen below reviewing a guard of honor of local gendarmes during a visit to Pondicherry in January 1955, a few months after the de facto transfer of the enclave to India. You will note the very French appearance of the local Indian police, including sharp red kepis, web gear, and MAS rifles complete with needle bayonets.
The chief French enclave in India dating back to 1674 (except for when it was briefly captured by the Dutch during the Nine Years’ War and later by the Brits during the Seven Years’ War), Pondichéry remained a part of France until it was bloodlessly ceded back to India in 1954.
During WWII, its 600-strong Compagnie de Cipahis stood strong and the enclave was always part of “Free France,” never Vichy.
Still, the city loves its French roots, some 5,000 French nationals currently live there, and the constabulary continues to wear red kepis.