 Anglo-Indians part of Indian dream
 A fortnight of celebrations to mark the contribution of Anglo-Indians to the Indian mainstream is being organised in Chennai under the theme of
‘Anglo-Scapes'.
“Anglo-Scapes was born with the idea of 'journeys' and 'celebrating diversity' through a better understanding of the different communities that form an integral part of Indian society,” said Rajiv Krishnan, who, along with Harry
MacLure, is organising the events.
“Our effort in this is to put together different events that could reflect the spirit of the Anglo-Indian community in the past and present context,” said
Rajiv. Noted Anglo-Indian writer Irwin Allan Sealy will inaugurate
Anglo-Scapes on July 1 at British Council, Chennai.
A treasure trove of photographs that offer interesting insights into the lifestyle and customs of the Anglo-Indian community will be on display from July 1-15, 2006, at British Council.
An exhibition of illustrations of Tagore's 'Gitanjali' by Anglo-Indian artist Eugene D'Vaz will be put up from July 3-15 at The Alliance Francaise de Madras.
Screening of acclaimed films; '36 Chowringee Lane', 'Bow Barracks Forever' and
'Bhowani Junction' would be held between July 1 and 16 at Satyam Cinemas.
An English Play '...and Sunshine follows the Rain', mirroring the hopes and aspirations of an Anglo-Indian family just after Indian Independence (inspired by 'The Glass Menagerie' by Tennessee Williams), will be held on July 6, 7, 8 & 9 –
(matinée & evening shows) at Museum Theatre.
A festival of Anglo-Indian food, one of the earliest examples of 'fusion cuisine' in India, will be organised from July 1-16 at Taj Connemara Hotel. This food festival will include several dishes like 'mulligatawny soup', 'pork
vindaloo' and 'coconut rice with ball curry', which have acquired a permanent place in the international culinary lexicon.
A musical concert on July 15 at Music Academy would mark the grand finale of the fortnight-long celebrations. Led by acclaimed Jazz musician Frank Dubier and his ensemble, and featuring celebrated musicians from the Anglo-Indian community from India and abroad, this concert will regale listeners of all ages...
The Anglo-Indian community was born as a result of the migration of Europeans to India during the high noon of the British empire. Some married Indian women and lived and died in India. The communion between the Europeans and the Indians gave rise to a new community called Anglo- Indians.
The Anglo-Indians made a buffer class between the white British and the common Indians. For the first 100 years, the British allowed the mixed blood race to stay by their side but thereafter they segregated them. The new community was Indian in appearance but European in language and cultural mores and norms.
“We are not an accident of history, but a deliberate creation of East India Company,” someone from the community once said.
The Anglo Indian community had a seminal role to play in the making of modern India. They left a mark of their contribution in the development of the railways, roadways, telegraph, armed forces and above all in the spread of English education, the pillars on which modern India stands today.
The community was at the crossroads in 1947, when India was making its ‘tryst with destiny’. The British packed up their bags and pulled down their Union Jack in 1947, but left behind the offspring of their 400 years of relationship with India.
“…14 August 1947. We turn up the radio near the hotel bar before the midnight and listened as Viceroy, Lord Louis
Mountbatten, and the first Prime Minister of the new Dominion of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, announced jointly that, at the stroke of 12, the old Indian Dominion would cease to exist and two independent Dominions would come into being. In the background we had much cheering and shouting and martial music, and next morning an air of euphoria prevailed in the streets, among the coolies and the beggars, among the tonga drivers and the hotel staff. The elation, almost giddiness, was felt everywhere, especially round the bar of our hotel, among the British officers on the verge of leaving for England, and the Moslems waiting to catch trains to Pakistan,” says Captain Stan Blackford in his book, One Hell of a life.
The passage aptly sums up the mood of the 1947 India. What it does not take cognisance is the anxieties of six lakh Anglo-Indians spread over the length and breadth of the country who were left rudderless at the stroke of that eventful midnight.
The Anglo-Indians were tense during the time of Independence. The community was torn by uncertainty fanned by all sorts of
rumours. Some outspoken attack was made against them in the press.
“No we do not want the Anglo-Indians. We never did and we never shall…Give them the boot,” said one pamphlet distributed in Bombay in 1947.
In this wave of uncertainty, a lot of Anglo-Indians migrated to England, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Those who still debated about their survival heaved a sigh of relief with the promulgation of the Indian Constitution in 1950.
The Constitution recognised the Anglo-Indians as a distinct community in India and reserved two MPs for them in the Lower House of Parliament and one MLA each in 12 different provinces of India.
The towering personality of Nehru infused a great deal of confidence in the beleaguered community. Nehru, who epitomised the image of being the custodian of secularism, through his words and deeds, gave a ray of hope to many Anglo-Indians to stay on in India.
Nehru’s death in 1964 left many in the community blinking once again about their future and then started a fresh wave of exodus. The migration grew to unbelievable proposition in the late sixties and seventies. Informed estimates place 4,50,000 Anglo-Indians to be currently residing in Australia, Britain and Canada and elsewhere in the world.
However, scholars who feel that the 400-year-old Anglo-Indian community will soon fade away into oblivion have been proved wrong, says Harry
MacLure, editor of the magazine 'Anglos in the Wind'.
“The overwhelming response from the community worldwide since the launch of the magazine in 1998 makes one to believe that the Anglo-Indians are alive and dancing.”
“The youngsters in India are doing well, contributing positively to society in general, and, most importantly, they continue to marry within the community giving us hope and proving the scholars wrong,” Harry adds.
The current population of the Anglo-Indian community in India is estimated to be about 1,30,000. They are scattered all over country with a significant number in Chennai (35,000), Kolkata (25,000) Banglore (20,000) and Kerala (20,000).
In Chennai, there are seven Anglo-Indian associations covering the localities of
Perambur, Ayanavaram, Vepery, St Thomas Mount, Pallavaram, Madhavaram and
Royapuram.
The Anglo-Indian associations in Chennai meet once every month and the cultural part of the community is being preserved with celebrations like 'May Queen Ball' and dancing and musical activities.
The Anglo-Indian are a hard-working, family-oriented and church-going people. Most of them live a life of middle- and lower middle-class Indians and some have even slipped to below the poverty line. Even though adapting to new realties in post-independent India, they cling to their distinct culture.
Once upon a time they were mostly railway employees who enjoyed a simple lifestyle in the railway colonies, listening to the high-pitched whistle of passing steam trains, and the radio at more quiet moments, but now they are part of the great Indian dream, building up in the wake of the liberalisation of the economy.
When employment opportunities in government services dried up and with uncertainty looming large, a lot many Anglo-Indians had to leave to foreign lands. However, in the new era of
privatisation, a good deal of opportunities has been thrown open in India. Anglo-Indians now work in banks, hotels and the IT sector. They are looked for for their office administration skills and are much sought after as secretaries and PAs in offices.
Many Anglo-Indians excel in different walks of life. Actors Diana
Hyden, Mark Robinson, cricketer Roger Binny, quiz master Derek O'Brien, are a few names that immediately crop up in one's mind.
The transformation of the Anglo-Indian community from being government servants during the British Raj to white and blue collar workers has, no doubt, been full of trial and tribulation but now they are well adjusted with the Indian mainstream.
Migration is now a matter of choice for the Anglo-Indian community. The booming Indian economy offers enough temptations to stay on in India. Those here have adapted to the new realities and are reinforcing the belief that Anglo-Indian community is not a dying community.
The trend in the new millennium is that many Anglo-Indian families are returning to settle back in India. One could see this new development slowly gaining momentum. There could be various reasons; maybe because of their foreign currency exchange rates, maybe the warm weather they always dream of during those cold, dreary winter spells, or probably they miss the warmth of the people of India. Whatever be the factor, many Anglo-Indians especially the old and the retired, are coming back ‘home.’
“The climate is warm throughout the year, the city is looking quite modern, the attractive grocers have all kinds of food, fresh meat and vegetables, there is no dearth of excellent doctors, what does one need more,” said Bertie
Rozario, who has settled down in Chennai after living in the UK for nearly 35 years.
Further details can be obtained from Harry
MacLure,
Editor: Anglos in the Wind
Editorial Office: AITW,
A-77, 'Book Nook',
3rd Avenue,
Anna Nagar East,
Chennai - 600 102.
Phone / Fax: +91- 44- 4208 0058
E-mail: aitw@hotmail.com
| harrymaclure@yahoo.com
Website: www.harrymaclure.in
Syed Ali Mujtaba
|
