Anglo-Indians was a mixed-raced group formed through the union of European fathers and native/non-European mothers, over the course of colonial times.
- British Raj had a clear demarcation among its subjects on account of their race—the classification which has been reflected in regulations by the Raj as European and non-European.
By Nazarul Islam | USA
Life in Pakistan and Bangladesh
Anglo-Indians also lived in the regions that became Pakistan and Bangladesh. The community in Pakistan faced challenges, leading many to emigrate, particularly after the rise of Islamist agendas in the 1970s. In Bangladesh, many Anglo-Indians had left their homes during Partition and the 1971 war, though a small community still persists there.
Declining numbers: With continued emigration and assimilation through intermarriage, the Anglo-Indian population in the subcontinent has significantly declined and continues to shrink. The 1947 population of approximately 300,000 had been reduced dramatically.
Assimilation: Many younger Anglo-Indians have increasingly integrated into mainstream Indian, Pakistani, or Bangladeshi society and culture, with many marrying outside the community. While this threatened the community’s distinct identity, it also led to greater social acceptance.
Diaspora: The Anglo-Indian diaspora, spread across the Commonwealth and beyond, has seen a resurgence of interest in celebrating their culture. International reunions and published literature help preserve their unique history.
Legacy: The Anglo-Indians left an enduring legacy on the subcontinent, notably through their significant contributions to the railway, education, and defense sectors. Many prominent Anglo-Indians have also achieved success in various fields, including sports and entertainment.
The British attitude toward Anglo-Indians was complex and inconsistent, shifting dramatically over time from initial acceptance during the East India Company’s rule to growing discrimination during the British Raj. Anglo-Indians occupied an ambiguous, in-between status, never fully accepted as British and largely separated from Indian society.
The East India Company initially encouraged unions between its male employees and Indian women. This was seen as a way to “prevent wickedness” and ensure soldiers would be more stable if they had families.
Social integration: During this period, there were fewer British women in India, so intermarriage was common. Children of these unions were often accepted, and wealthy British fathers ensured their Anglo-Indian daughters survived in England and married to fellow officers.
Positions of authority: For a time, Anglo-Indians served in various military and civil capacities for the company. Some assimilated deeply into Indian culture, with personalities like Colonel James Skinner and Lieutenant-Colonel James Kirkpatrick rising to prominent positions.
Rise of racial prejudice: British attitudes hardened significantly in the 19th century with the arrival of more British women and the rise of Victorian-era racial ideology.
Exclusion from power: Interracial marriages often fell out of favor. In 1791, the East India Company began excluding Anglo-Indians from positions of authority. The 1833 Charter Act further cemented their legal position as “natives of India,” limiting their employment opportunities.
Pejorative labels: British officials began using derogatory terms like “Eurasian” and “half-caste” to distinguish mixed-race individuals from “pure” Britons, creating a racial hierarchy.
Blame and stigma: Religious and moral justifications were used to explain the supposed “flaws” of the mixed-race population, with evangelicals and writers blaming the Indian mother for any perceived defects.
Preferential employment: Following the Indian Rebellion of 1857, Anglo-Indians largely sided with the British. Afterward, the British government rewarded their loyalty with preferential treatment for jobs in the railways, customs, and postal services. This created an ambivalent relationship, where they held a higher social status than most Indians but were subordinate to Britons.
Social segregation: Despite their favored employment, Anglo-Indians were largely excluded from top positions and shunned socially by the British elite. This created a profound “dilemma of identity,” as they were neither fully British nor fully Indian and were caught between two worlds.
Passing as European: Some Anglo-Indians with fairer skin and greater wealth attempted to “pass” as white or European to access more opportunities, though this was only an option for a small portion of the community.
Internal divisions: The British racial classification system further divided the community by categorizing “fairer” and wealthier Anglo-Indians differently from darker and poorer “Eurasians,” a distinction resented by many.
Exodus from India: After Indian independence in 1947, many Anglo-Indians felt a profound sense of insecurity and faced hostility from some Indians, leading many to emigrate to the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth nations.
New challenges in Britain: Those who moved to Britain often found their social status was far lower than what they were accustomed to in India and had to rebuild their lives.
Beyond increasing racism and the influx of British women, other factors contributed to the decline in Anglo-Indian social status during the British Raj. Legal changes, economic limitations, the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and growing Indian nationalism collectively eroded the community’s position.
1833 Charter Act: In the early 19th century, this act legally classified Anglo-Indians as “natives of India” for employment purposes. While it was an early attempt to open the Indian civil service to all people, it had the effect of excluding Anglo-Indians from higher-ranking, more lucrative jobs. This significantly impacted their career opportunities and upward social mobility.
Emphasis on “Indianization”: As the Raj progressed, the British sought to give more administrative roles to native Indians to counter growing nationalist sentiments. This “Indianization” of services meant that the preferential employment Anglo-Indians had received in sectors like railways and customs faced increasing competition from the local Indian population.
Limited employment: The combination of British racial discrimination and the Indianization of the Raj created a squeeze on the Anglo-Indian community’s economic prospects. As they were excluded from the highest British positions and faced rising competition from educated Indians, they were increasingly confined to middle-tier jobs.
Impact of Indian nationalism: The rise of Indian nationalist movements challenged British rule and the privileges granted to the Anglo-Indian community. As India moved towards independence, the Anglo-Indians’ traditional employment in imperial services became unstable, creating immense anxiety about their future.
Aftermath of Sepoy Mutiny of 1857
Increased British paranoia: The rebellion created a profound and lasting chasm between the British and Indian populations. British authorities became deeply suspicious of Indians and sought to create greater separation. New urban planning policies were implemented to segregate white residents from natives.
Creation of a social chasm
The trauma of the rebellion, including massacres committed by both sides, led to decades of social segregation. While Anglo-Indians had sided with the British, their “mixed-race” background made them racially “impure” in the eyes of many British elites, reinforcing their marginalization.
Victorian morality
The Victorian era had ushered in a rigid social conservatism both in England and their colonies. Furthermore, it had intensified focus on racial purity. Interracial relationships, once tolerated, were viewed as socially undesirable and a “disgrace”.
Negative social stereotypes
In the 19th century, Anglo-Indians were subjected to negative stereotypes propagated by evangelical organizations and popular writers. Their supposed “flaws” were often attributed to their Indian heritage, contributing to the idea that the community was morally or intellectually inferior.
Social isolation
The community’s ambiguous status led to isolation. Not only were they rejected by the British, but they were also sometimes ostracized by native Indians, who viewed them as outsiders who had adopted British ways. This social exclusion further cemented their difficult position in colonial society.
Victorian morality significantly worsened British attitudes toward Anglo-Indians through an emphasis on racial purity, a strict social hierarchy, and evangelical influence. These cultural shifts during the 19th century created a powerful stigma around mixed-race individuals, who were once more accepted in earlier periods.
Rejection of intermarriage
As more British women began traveling to India following the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, British men were no longer dependent on forming relationships with Indian women. Victorian social codes strongly condemned intermarriage, viewing it as a transgression against the British race.
Stigma of “degenerate” race
This aversion was rooted in a pseudo-scientific belief that racial mixing led to the biological and moral “degeneration” of the white race. Anglo-Indians were seen as a hybrid group that inherited the worst traits of both races. Writers like Alice Perrin fueled this narrative with negative portrayals of mixed-race individuals in their fiction.
Erosion of social standing
The British consciously distanced themselves from Anglo-Indians, viewing them as a threat to the perceived superiority and purity of the ruling class. This solidified a strict social hierarchy that placed Anglo-Indians firmly below pure-blooded Britons.
Moral condemnation of miscegenation
The increasing influence of Christian missionary groups in India from 1813 onward reinforced Victorian moral standards. These missionaries frequently condemned the “immoral” relationships that had created the Anglo-Indian community.
Blame placed on the Indian mother
Figures like writer Mary Sherwood propagated the idea that any moral or personal failings observed in Anglo-Indians were inherited from the Indian side of the family. This perspective further absolved the British father of blame while placing the stigma entirely on the Anglo-Indian individual and their Indian heritage.
Forced cultural assimilation
Evangelical efforts also promoted the forced assimilation of Indigenous cultures into European ones. This was seen by some as a justification for British colonial rule and further alienated mixed-race communities who were expected to adopt a British identity they were never fully granted.
Reinforced social segregation
Victorian morality dictated that British officials and their families should remain separate from the native Indian population to uphold an image of superiority and maintain social order. This policy directly impacted Anglo-Indians, who were excluded from elite social circles like British clubs and residential areas.
Creation of new racial terminology:
The British developed a more precise and condescending racial classification system to further divide and categorize people of mixed heritage. The term “Eurasian” was widely used in a derogatory way, distinguishing mixed-race individuals from those of “pure” European ancestry.
Limited opportunities for advancement
This strict hierarchy restricted social and career mobility for Anglo-Indians. They were largely relegated to middle-tier jobs within the railways, customs, and postal services, which were not seen as respectable by the ruling British elite. This limited their prospects and reinforced their subordinate status, even while they received preferential treatment compared to native Indians.
The cultural elements of the Anglo-Indian community are a unique blend of British and Indian traditions, languages, and customs. This fusion developed over centuries, creating a distinct identity shaped by their “in-between” status under colonial rule.
Anglo-Indian food is one of the most vibrant examples of the community’s fusion culture, combining European and Indian flavors. Spices and cooking methods from India were used to enliven otherwise plain British dishes.
Signature dishes
Many dishes adapted from British recipes are now Anglo-Indian classics. Examples include the hearty mulligatawny soup, peppery “Country Captain” chicken, and pish-pash, a rice and meat porridge.
Unique flavor profiles
Anglo-Indian cuisine is known for robust flavors, using fragrant spices like cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and pepper along with fresh ginger, garlic, and chilies.
Regional variations
Dishes can vary by region. For instance, Anglo-Indian cuisine in Kolkata might include more rice and fish dishes, while a Goan-influenced version might feature more pork, beef, and coconut milk.
English is the mother tongue of the Anglo-Indian community, setting them apart from most other Indian ethnic groups.
Unique dialect
Anglo-Indians developed a distinct accent and speech pattern, sometimes described as “chee-chee,” which uses a unique intonation and cadence. While the term was historically used derisively, it reflects a unique linguistic evolution.
Bilingualism
Many Anglo-Indians speak regional languages like Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi or Bengali in addition to English, but English remains the primary language used at home and in community settings.
Anglo-Indian social customs have always reflected a deep blend of Eastern and Western influences.
Festivals
Christmas is a particularly significant festival for the Christian community, marked by festive foods, sweets like kulkuls, cakes, and special dances. Celebrations often last for weeks.
Social clubs
Historically, community life revolved around social clubs, which hosted dances, sporting events, and other functions. These clubs helped foster a strong sense of community and preserve traditions.
Family gatherings
Visiting and entertaining family and friends is a common practice, with food and drink often at the center of the gathering. Children respectfully address adult visitors as “Auntie” or “Uncle.”
Here are some of the key cultural elements of the Anglo-Indian community:
Anglo-Indian cuisine is a well-known example of the fusion of British and Indian culinary traditions. Indian spices and cooking techniques were often incorporated into British dishes.
English is the primary language of the Anglo-Indian community. Over time, a distinct accent and speech pattern developed. Many Anglo-Indians are also bilingual, speaking regional languages such as Hindi or Bengali, but English is typically used at home and within the community.
Anglo-Indian social customs reflect both Eastern and Western influences. Christmas is a particularly important festival, celebrated with festive foods, sweets, and dances.
Historically, social clubs played a central role in community life, hosting events and fostering a sense of togetherness. Family gatherings are also significant, with food and drink often central to these occasions. Children commonly address adult visitors as “Auntie” or “Uncle.”
The family unit typically blended British structures with Indian kinship values. Western-style education was highly valued, with many families prioritizing English-medium schools as a means of social mobility and maintaining cultural connections. Anglo-Indians often formed close-knit communities, especially in places like railway towns, which provided a sense of security and identity.
Anglo-Indians influenced Indian society by forming a unique community with a Westernized culture that contributed significantly to the development of India’s railways, posts and telegraphs, education, health, and armed forces. They also introduced Western sports like cricket and hockey, and provided a network of high-standard schools. While their role diminished after Indian independence, they left an indelible mark as a bridge between cultures, influencing the spread of the English language and leaving a legacy in various aspects of modern Indian life.
Railways, Posts, and Telegraphs
: Anglo-Indians played a crucial role in building and operating the infrastructure of British India, including the vital railway systems and the posts and telegraph services.
Civil Services and Armed Forces
They held important positions in the customs, police, and armed forces, often serving with distinction in various wars.
Modernization
Anglo-Indians were instrumental in the modernization of India by developing key sectors such as education, health, and transport.
Language and Education
They were a conduit for the dissemination of the English language in India and established a network of high-standard Anglo-Indian schools that influenced education across the country.
Sports
Anglo-Indians introduced and championed Western sports like cricket and hockey, helping to raise their standards in India.
Cultural Fusion
As a community with mixed British and Indian heritage, they fostered a hybrid culture, acting as a bridge between the East and West, though this often led to identity crises.
Melting Pot of Cultures
Anglo-Indians have represented a unique story of hybridity, contributing to the diverse tapestry of India’s history, languages, and bloodlines.
While the community is now smaller, their cultural legacy continues to be heard in various aspects of Indian society, whether in India or overseas, from music and dance to the presence of English in everyday life. (Concludes)
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The Bengal-born writer Nazarul Islam is a senior educationist based in USA. He writes for Sindh Courier and the newspapers of Bangladesh, India and America. He is author of a recently published book ‘Chasing Hope’ – a compilation of his articles.
