Living in a twilight zone

By Melvyn Lobo

Anglo-Indians are a people in search of new moorings. From a time when the community represented the throbbing spirit of India’s success, these descendants of the British raj face a bleak tomorrow.

In 1947, when the British left the sub-continent, an estimated 600,000 Anglos made India their home. Today, according to the latest census, not more than 100,000 survive. This is when India’s population has multiplied several times in the last half century.

Worse, the community that took pride in education (which, in turn, guaranteed them positions of authority in jobs) has settled for such low-paying positions as telephone operator, receptionist, motor mechanic, nurse and band masters.

"These are stereotypical facsimiles of Anglo-Indian reinforced through books and films like 36 Chowringhee Lane, Bhowani Junction and Julie". points out Beatrix D’Souza, president of the Forum of Anglo-Indian Women.

Chevalier Douglas Gibson, vice-president of the All India Anglo-Indian Association attributes it to a "singular lack of motivation to excel" in the younger generation who have their sights on migrating to Australia, New Zealand, United States and Canada.

"In some cities like Madras, almost 90 per cent of the Anglo-Indian population have left the country in search of greener pastures", he informs "Those left behind are facing an uncertain future. They feel they are unwanted, that they are social outcasts."

The association, formed in 1876, boasts of 60 branches across the country with such stalwarts as Sir Henry Gidney, Major General R.G. Williams and Frank Anthony presiding over the affairs of the community. Neil O’Brien, a retired publisher, is its current president.

Luda Barnett, a retired schoolteacher recalls how Anglo-Indians used to "excel in all fields, including public health, railways, forestry, sports and armed forces". Soon after Independence, their numbers dwindled so rapidly in the services that they needed reservations for jobs.

"Even that provision was scrapped a few years ago," she says incredulously. "I am worried about my second daughter’s inability to get a government job even though she has been scoring very high marks in school and college."

Like all women, she is also concerned about the community losing its cultural roots. A stickler for tradition, Luda likes her "pucca English breakfast" with cake, bread, biscuits and eggs. Beef or pork is a must for lunch and dinner.

But her husband, Robbie can easily thrive on idlis, dosas and upma. She is plain outraged when her children dig junk food including "Roadside Chinese"and bhelpuri. Sambar-rice and chapattis have become commonplace in many Anglo-Indian homes.

The dress code too has similarly undergone a change. Gone are the days when the man stood suited-booted in tie, shoes and hat while women wore their customary gowns. Girls used to prance about in frocks an skirts.

Today, such "traditional dressing" is reserved for ceremonial occasions like church weddings. At all other times, the community is indistinguishable in their casual wear or ethnic outfits like salwar-kameez, churidaars and even sarees.

"Only the system of marriage has stood the test of time," says D’Souza. "We take pride at being the only community in India that does not take nor give dowry. Wedding expenses are shared equally between parents of the bride and groom".

She adds that the only social change that has taken place is the tendency to have arranged marriages. For earlier, boys and girls mingled freely at community dinners and dances, thereby saving parents the bother of finding suitable mates for their children.

"There is no community left, so where are the parties and dances?" asks Colin Viegas. "Each unto oneself is what we are seeing today. The situation turns tragic in old age when there is nobody to fall back on. The elderly are left to die as destitutes or locked into old age homes."

An upcoming fashion designer, Colin has lots of plans like setting up a vocational training centre and providing housing facilities for his people. He is also campaigning for backward community status, which would have better employment chances for Anglo-Indians.

D’Souza also feels that one way of stopping migration is to expand job opportunities for Anglo-Indians. "I have already sent a proposal to the government to declare the community as a linguistic ethnic minority," she says.

This would effectively place Anglo-Indians on a par with backward tribes and low caste Hindus who need government support to come up in life. It isn’t a very happy situation for a community that is proud of its past and still basks in the reflected glory of their forefathers.

— MF