HISTORY OF THE ANGLO - INDIANS

An·glo-In·di·an (ăng'glō-ĭn'dē-ən)
   adj.  Of, relating to, or between England / (now includes Europe) and India.

    n. 1. A person of English / (now includes European) and Indian descent.

        2. A person of English / (now includes European) birth or ancestry living in India.

        3. The variety of English used in India.

Article 366(2) of the Indian Constitution defines an Anglo-Indian as "...a person whose father or any of whose other male progenitors in the male line is or was of European descent but who is domiciled within the territory of India and is or was born within such territory of parents habitually resident therein and not established there for temporary purposes only" ^[1]. Under this definition, the mestiços (mixed Portuguese and Indian) of Goa are also included.

 The beginnings of the community can be traced back to the early part of the 17th century when the British fostered this community to strengthen their foothold in India, with deliberate sanctions that encouraged their growth. The early sailors which came to India married and settled with native women - before the ravages of lash or battle, climate or disease took their toll on them. The East India Company's directors encouraged their employees in India to take local brides and convert them. A gold mohur was paid to the mother of every child born from such a union. The Anglo-Indian community is a distinct minority community originating in India consisting of people of mixed British and Indian ancestry whose native language is English. An Anglo-Indian's British ancestry is bequeathed paternally.

The original Anglo-Indians were of mixed blood descending from the British on the male side and women from the Indian sub-continent - including countries now known as Pakistan and Bangladesh - on the female side. Over generations Anglo-Indians intermarried with other Anglo-Indians to form a community that developed a culture of its own. Anglo-Indian cuisine, dress, speech and religion all served to further segregate Anglo-Indians from the native population. They established a school system focused on English language and culture and formed social clubs and associations to run functions like their regular dances at occasions like Christmas and Easter.

Over time Anglo-Indians were specifically recruited into the Customs and Excise, Post and Telegraphs, Forestry Department, The Railways and teaching professions - but they were employed in many other fields as well. A number of factors fostered a strong sense of community among Anglo-Indians. Their English language school system, their Anglo centric culture, and their Christian beliefs in particular helped bind them together. Like the Parsi community, the Anglo-Indians are essentially urban dwellers. Unlike the Parsis, the mass migrations saw more of the better educated and financially secure Anglo-Indians depart for Commonwealth countries

THE BETRAYAL

               This encouragement led to the establishment of a multiracial community that was later to be shunned and discriminated against by the same people who encouraged its birth. The deliberate oppression of the mixed community was heightened by the awareness of Englishmen returning from India having amassed enormous wealth in a relatively short period - made the Directors of The East India Company envious of the people with Indian connections and they could only get back at their dependents who often did not have protection under the law - as they were neither 'natives' nor 'brits".

Coupled with this was the rebellion in the Spanish possession of Haiti by "mulattos" - persons of European and Negro descent. This rebellion in a far off pacific island by a community of mixed blood was seized upon by the directors of the East India Company and support was generated that Indian soldiers led by Anglo-Indian Officers might well emulate Haiti and drive out the British. The company immediately withdrew all privileges extended to the children of Anglo-Indian origin by ordering a blanket ban on them entering officer cadres and within a short span of time he community was reduced to the status of a down trodden race. This was a period when officers and sons of Anglo-Indians began joining forces of the Indian Princes and many of them rose to command immense prestige and power

THE GRADUAL INTEGRATION

               The Gradual integration of the community into the main stream of Indian life became a necessity, and over the past four decades with the support of the government there has been a marked realization in all sections of the community that the emerging political structures in free India base on equity, democracy, socialism and secularism would serve their interests and should sections of the community be able to raise themselves above the mire of self-degradation and self inflicted isolation, they can compete for placements and opportunities that a developing country can possibly offer its citizens.

EDUCATION - THE BACKBONE OF THE ANGLO-INDIANS

                The greatest and perhaps the most singular contribution to the nation by the Anglo-Indian community has made, is it's sustained presence in the sphere of school education.
                At the time of independence there were nearly 300 Anglo-Indian schools in existence. The premier Examination board in the country, managed by the Anglo-Indians -" Council for the Indian School certificate Examinations, New Delhi ", has evolved into a premier body conducting public examinations at the Secondary and Senior secondary levels in India and abroad. The " Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations", established in 1958, with support of the -" Inter-State Board for Anglo-Indian Education", provides its examinations to over 1000 schools in India and abroad.
                 The Anglo-Indian community with the support : of Article-30 of the Indian Constitution, continue to manage and establish educational institutions providing access to quality education and opportunities without distinction or preference to all sections of society.

SURVIVAL OF THE COMMUNITY

                 Frank Anthony said - " I do not believe that the community will be absorbed or disappear because of some allegedly inevitable historical-cum-biological processes. Anglo- Indians have a certain coherent sense, which in the final analysis will ensure continuing cohesion and identity."

                Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Late Prime Minister of India at the centenary celebrations of the All India Anglo Indian Association  in October 1976 said - " The Anglo-Indian community has a played a part out of all proportion to its size for the development and progress of India. The community has been a pioneer in many technical professions, railways, forestry, education, public health, nursing, sports and the fighting forces. The entire country admires their zest, their spirit of adventure and patriotism. English is their mother tongue, it helps in the communication with other countries with understanding world events, trends and personalities."

CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS

                 The Anglo-Indians are the only community to have constitutional provisions with respect to nominations to the Lok Sabha and the State Assemblies under the provisions of Article - 330 and 331 of the Constitution. We must thank the Late Sir Henry Gidney and the untiring efforts of Late Frank Anthony, who ensured these provisions whereby 2 members of the community are nominated to the Lok Sabha at the Center and one member is nominated to each State legislature to represent the interests of the Anglo-Indian community.