THE HISTORY OF ‘Anglo-Indians’

 

 

Recently the phrase Anglo-Indian  has become a widely discussed 

topic in India. In any of the colonial countries, there are some peoples whose 

bodies have the blood of both the ruler and the ruled. This also happened during

the Mughal and Sultanate periods. The British also formed a similar group which

was later called Anglo-Indians.

The word "Anglo-Indian" is very old. The word has been used in English literature

since the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. At that time, the English who 

came to India on a ship for business were called 'East Indians' or

'Anglo-Indians'. Many of them grow bananas with swollen fingers. These

Englishmen who became the owners of large sums of money were called

'Nawabs'. 

In a capitalist country like England, what happens if the capitalists do not have an

influence in the parliament? These wealthy partners of the repatriated company

formed a strong lobby in Parliament. 

This is about the Anglo-Indians of the Warren Hastings era. The Anglo-Indians of

this era were not employees of the company returning to India. They are hybrid 

children of British fathers and Indian mothers. From the middle of the eighteenth 

century to the middle of the nineteenth century, thousands of white people came 

to India from Britain for both military and civilian service. 

As the British-occupied territory in the subcontinent grew, so did the British 

government. Administration Service, Railway Service, Forest Service, Police 

Service, Postal Service etc. Until the twentieth century, the British were employed

in the first class of these jobs. Many of the British officers and employees got

married and settled in this country. 

      An Anglo-Indian family;Image Source : mansfield. 

At one time British officers were encouraged to marry Indian women. Rewards 

were given by providing other opportunities including promotion after marriage. 

Queen Victoria was advised by her advisers to indulge in the creation of a 

British-Indian hybrid group in India. They thought there would be a group of 

people who would carry the blood of a British father and who would be 

well-versed in India and Indian culture. Who will undoubtedly strengthen the 

foundations of British rule. They also gave proof of their loyalty to their father's 

country during the Sepoy Rebellion.

Initially they were called 'Eurasian'. The combination of Asian mother and Euro

-pean father is therefore Eurasian. They were included as Eurasians in all the 

censuses conducted before the first decade of the twentieth century. Of course, 

at that time, citizens of many European or Central Asian countries were referred

 to as 'Eurasian'.  

The first Anglo-Indian identity was officially included in the 1911 census.According

to the 1911 census, steps were taken to include all Europeans living in Bengal as

Anglo-Indians, children of Indian mothers and British fathers or in any case. By 

the end of the second decade of the twentieth century, the number of Anglo- 

Indians was approximately twenty-five thousand. But when the Government of 

India Act of 1919 was enacted, their number in the 250-member legislature was

25! The failure of the Rule of India Act of 1919 gave rise to the Rule of India Act 

of 1935. Under this Act, 4 seats in the Legislative Assembly were reserved for 

Anglo-Indians. 

Although this hybrid population grew up under English law, they were discrimina-

ted against in England. Although they had the ability to speak English in the 

English style, they were devalued in English land as contaminated blood. Then 

they returned to motherland India. In India they try to find employment. Is also 

successful. The then British rulers exclusively appointed Anglo Indians in a few 

places like railway service, steamer service, postal service. From generation to 

generation they continue to serve in these fields. Many started jute business. 

Some are even jockeys. Girls are involved in professions like office assistant, 

teaching.

In 1897, the Calcutta Rangers Club was formed by the Anglo-Indians. The club 

became famous for its elegant, fancy, educated Anglo-Indians. Anglo-Indian 

culture is a combination of Indian and British cultures. From food to shoes, from 

hats to kitchens, the combination of the two indigenous cultures can be seen 

everywhere. Another thing to note here. That is, there is a big difference between 

the South Indian Anglo-Indian recipe and the East Indian Anglo-Indian recipe.

Anglo Indian Chicken Express;Image Source:cookpad.com
 


Traditionally, Ripon Street in central Calcutta was a settlement of Anglo-Indians. 

Their ancestral home is in the broken, cracked walls of Ripon Street. Elsewhere 

you will find Anglo Indian settlements. Bow Barracks or Bow Street. The greatest 

sanctuary of present Anglo Indian culture. It is located in the middle of Boubazar 

police station from Hare Street in Kolkata. The most beautiful red brick, palace-

like infrastructure on both sides of the road will catch the eye. Huge red brick 

houses bear witness to antiquity. Like the Indian version of London's Bow Street. 

The houses are known from history to have been built as messes for British 

soldiers during the First World War. The Second World War began as soon as the

shock of the First World War subsided. Then the country was divided and the 

British left India. After the British troops left, when the Bo Barracks became empty,

a group of Anglo-Indians came up there. Despite the lack of official settlement 

documents, about 150 families are still stationed there.

      The famous Bow Barracks in Calcutta;
       Image Source:times of india.

Christmas is the main festival of Anglo-Indians as they are Christians. Christmas 

at the Bow Barracks in Kolkata is world famous. Anglo Indians from all over the 

world flock to the Bow Barracks at Christmas. The festival turned into a reunion. 

Seeing the Anglo-Indian culture of the Bo Barracks, many unknowingly say, 

'Another Calcutta in Calcutta'. 

Christmas at Bow Barracks; Image Source: pictures india


The Anglo-Indian community has become a minority community over time. Accor-

ding to the survey, there are currently 10 to 15 lakh Anglo-Indians left in the world.

Anglo Indians live not only in India or the United Kingdom, but also in Canada, 

Australia, the United States, New Zealand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. 

Pure Anglo-Indian blood is rarely found. Independent North India is a multinational

state. The concept of Indian ethnicity is growing day by day. As a result, many 

Indian families began to marry Anglo-Indian families. The same thing happened in 

other countries, including the United Kingdom. Thus the pure Anglo-Indian blood 

or culture created by the mixture of the two nations began to become more 

multinational.

Although Anglo-Indians are a minority in India, they are not discriminated against. 

So far, a total of eight Air Vice Marshals have joined the Indian Air Force from 

Anglo-Indian families. One such person was Air Marshal Malcolm Woolen. 

Bengalis will always remember his contribution to the war of independence of 

Bangladesh.  

 Not only in the military or legal field but also in many fields including sports, art, 

literature, many members of the Anglo-Indian family have made honest 

contributions and have been remembered forever. 

References:

1. https://www.bbc.com/bengali/news/2013/09/130925_pic_gallery_anglo_indians.amp
2. https://archive.ittefaq.com.bd/index.php?ref=MjBfMDFfMTRfMTNfNF8zOV8xXzExMDc0
3. https://bengali.indianexpress.com/feature/christmas-kolkata-bow-barracks-anglo-indian-community-174864/lite/
4. https://www.prohor.in/robbaranda-supriyo-chowdhury-seisob-para-tara-9
5. https://www.bongodorshon.com/home/story_detail/bow-barrack-and-anglo-indian-community
6. https://zeenews.india.com/bengali/sports/golposwalpo-birth-anniversary-of-ronnie-moore-a-marvellous-kolkata-police-officer-and-boxer_331204.html/amp