As the very name suggests, the Anglo-Indian community is torn between two different worlds. They face a unique predicament as they are neither here nor there. History has played a cruel joke on them. Isolated, alienated, this small community is ploughing a lonely furrow. Seldom taken seriously and derided upon. All alone if need be, it has been a constant struggle for this group to be a part of the mainstream. Without being in the limelight, they have been rendering a yeoman service for the development of the society. Their contribution in taking India along the path of progress is immense. But, the irony is that they seldom get the recognition which they so rightly deserve.

The advent of the Europeans in India gave birth to this community, which is popularly known as the Anglo- Indians. Though generally identified with the British, the Anglo- Indian community also comprises descendents of the French, Dutch and the Portuguese. For the Anglo-Indians, it has been a long and chequered history.

Long before the country came under the British rule, the Anglo- Indian community was already in existence. But, it was the British colonial masters who encouraged mixed marriages to strengthen their grip on the country. The Directors of the East India Company in 1687 in Madras, instructed the soldiers to marry Indian women. The intention was to raise a race loyal to them. With the passage of time, the number of this community increased and they helped the British to the hilt. Till 1791, the Anglo- Indian community figured among one of the wealthy and influential groups in the country. Members of the community dominated the highest posts – both in the civil and military administration. However, towards the end of the 18th century, their increasing clout began to threaten the British.”

The Mulattos rebellion in Haiti worried the colonial masters. And fearing such a fate, the East India Company, in 1795, decreed that no Anglo- Indian would be admitted to their coveted services. The wings of the community were clipped and the services they rendered to the Company were conveniently forgotten.

Like the Indians, the Anglo- Indians too had to fight against the discrimination. Their problems were compounded as their loyalty was questioned both by the Indians as well as the British. Fighting the discrimination, this group sought an identity of their own. They formed their own associations and stood together as a group. Finally, they got the legal sanction as a distinct group in the Government of India Act of 1935, which defined Anglo- Indians as persons of European descent in the male line, whose parents were residing in India, their mother tongue being English, their religion Christianity.

Though, after the country attained Independence, a sizeable number of the Anglo- Indians migrated to places like UK, Australia and Canada in search of greener pastures, the rest stayed on and made India their home. Spread all over the country, there are around two lakh families of Anglo- Indians. Being urban dwelling people, they are mostly settled in Kolkota, Bangalore, Mumbai, and in towns like Jhansi, Kharagpur, Bilaspur, etc.

Along with the rest of the country, the Anglo- Indians have also made the North-East their home and have been contributing to its development. Throwing light on the community, Milton Queah, President of the Anglo- Indian Association of Assam, informed that the Anglo- Indian community in the region took shape much before the British set foot here in the North-East. “The Portuguese were the first Europeans who ventured into the region. The Portuguese married the local women and gave birth to the first Anglo- Indian group. Settlements of Portuguese descendants are still found in Bondashil near Karimganj, Maraimnagar and Rangamati in Darrang district. The first church in the North-East was established in Bondashil. It was not the British, but the Portuguese who first in a planned way wanted to give shape to a group who would be loyal to them. Way back in 1510, Alfonso d’ Albuquerque, Governor of the Portuguese controlled Goa, directed his soldiers to marry the local girls. He also gave incentives to those who carried out his orders.”

Dwelling on the role played by the community in nation building, Milton Queah proudly disclosed, “The Anglo- Indians have been contributing to its all round development, especially in the fields of education, sports, music, besides rendering pioneering service in sectors as the Railways, Post and Telegraphs, oil, tea industry, health and defence. They also broke new grounds by opting for careers into which initially few ventured.”

The role of Anglo- Indians in the domain of education simply cannot be undermined. The spread of education across the country is one of their biggest contributions. They made fine teachers and set a high standard of teaching. “Even in the North-East, the Anglo- Indians have played a leading role in providing quality education, more so at the school level. Even today, there are a number of teachers working in the English medium schools in the region”, Queah informed.

They also helped in popularising sports in the country. Norman Pritchard was the first Indian Olympic Silver medalist. The first Indian Olympic Hockey team at Amsterdam was captained by one of the country’s finest centre halfs – Eric Pennninger, an Anglo-Indian, marking the golden era in Indian hockey. In fact, it was the Anglo- Indians who brought in a high standard in hockey and showed others the way. The impressive list of sportspersons includes Leslie Claudius, Jennifer Paes, Bobby Claudius, Philip Corner, and Gary Nyss…

“The contribution of the community in the field of music and entertainment is immense. Several Anglo -Indians have left behind an indelible imprint on the world stage. Hollywood stars like Viven Leigh of Gone with the Wind fame, Sir Ben Kingsley, singers Cliff Richard, Engelbert Humperdinck… have made the community proud. Several top rock bands of the country are dominated by the Anglo Indians.”

Dwelling on the Anglo- Indians of Assam, Milton Queah disclosed that there are around 12500 people of the community spread all over the State. “But, they are mostly settled in places like Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Duliajan, Digboi, Tezpur, Jorhat, Lumding and Mariani.”

“The Anglo- Indians in Assam were mostly associated with the Railways, Post and Telegraphs, oil and tea sectors. The contribution of this group in the tea sector of the State was immense. They had a fair knowledge of the intricacies of the tea industry and held managerial positions. The success of the tea industry in Sri Lanka and Kenya can be easily attributed to the community who left the Assam tea gardens in search of better prospects. After Independence, a significant number of the community migrated to countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada and UK.”

Elaborating on the problems being faced by the community, Queah informed that though being genuine Indians, they don’t have a State of their own. “We identify ourselves as Indians and adopt the State in which we are residing as our home. Unlike others, we don’t have any ancestral land, which in turn has contributed to the rootless feeling which is peculiar to the members of our community.”

“Being Christians, Christmas is a special occasion for us. During Christmas, we invariably get together and celebrate it in a big way. Christmas is also a reunion time. These reunions help in strengthening our bonds.”

“Over the centuries, we have maintained our traditions and culture. We have our own set of culinary preferences and recipes. The club is an integral part of our culture. The people of our community relax and party at clubs. Now, this trend is fast catching up with the other communities as well.”

“Inspite of problems galore, our community is confidently marching ahead. We are carrying forward our customs and traditions. There are our reunions and we celebrate August 2 every year as World Anglo- Indian Day.”

“Though at the crossroads, we are confident that we would be able to carry on. We must face the future boldly and without letting the constant discrimination, alienation break our confidence. We have always given our best to the country and will continue to do so.”

Manish Goswami