An interesting read about the Anglo-Indians Just Loving Life: The Spirit That's Uniquely Anglo-Indian By SAR NEWS BANGALORE, Karnataka (SAR NEWS) -- There were fears among the Anglo-Indians in India that the federal government would remove the constitutional privileges and the minority status for the community as enshrined in the Constitution. This year, however, the privileges and the status were renewed for another 10 years. SAR News brings you an article by Beverly Pearson that condenses the 300-year history of the Anglo-Indian community into a perfect script for a 10-minute speech. -------------- The British Empire once held absolute power in over 52 countries. About two-fifths of the world. But there was only one jewel in the crown -- India. The first European settlers in India were the Portuguese in 1498, about 100 years before the British. The Dutch, the French and the British followed. They were all here for the duration on. The inevitable happened and a new mixed race community emerged. Even though the British came in peacefully as merchants and traders, they soon colonised the subcontinent of India. But the British needed allies to protect the jewel in the crown and so began a deliberate policy encouraging British males to marry Indian women to create the first Anglo-Indians. The East India Company paid 15 silver rupees for each child born to an Indian mother and a European father, as family allowance. These children were amalgamated into the growing Anglo-Indian community, forming a defensive structure for the British Raj. This was a deliberate act of self-preservation by the English. This unique hybrid individual was ethnically engineered by the occupying British, so much so that the Anglo-Indians were the only micro-minority community ever defined in a country's Constitution. Article 366 of the Indian Constitution states: "An Anglo-Indian means a person whose father or any of whose male ancestors in the male line is or was of European descent but who is domiciled within the territory of India and is or was born within such territory of parents habitually resident there-in and not established there for temporary purposes only." So you can see we were intended to be a permanent micro-minority. In 1830, British Parliament described the Anglo-Indian as those who have been English educated, are entirely European in their habits and feelings, dress and language. They were more "Anglo" than "Indian". Their mother tongue was English, they were Catholic or Anglican, and their customs and traditions were English. While most of them married within their own circle, many continued to marry expatriate Englishmen. Very few married Indians. Without Anglo-Indian support British rule would have collapsed. Railways: We ran the railways, post and telegraph, police and customs, education, export and import, shipping, tea, coffee and tobacco plantations, the coal and gold fields. We became teachers, nurses, priests and doctors. If it had any value, the British made sure we ran it. And when it came to secretarial duties, no one could touch our Anglo-Indian girls -- the best stenographers in the world and with a beauty to match. Were we favoured? Yes, the English trusted us. After all, we were related by blood. We worked hard. We became indispensable. We lived comfortably and were protected by the British Raj. Like the British, we had servants to do all our domestic work. The average Anglo-Indian home could afford at least three full-time servants -- a cook, a bearer and the indispensable nanny (ayah). Part-time servants included a gardener, a cleaner and a laundry man (dhobi). Of course, we learned to speak Hindi to be able to argue, give orders, bargain, accuse and terminate employment and throw in a dozen Hindi expletives. Imagine our horror when we were later to migrate to England, Canada and Australia and we no longer had servants to do our domestic chores. Who can remember looking at our first toilet brush and asking "what do we do with this?" We had to learn to cook, clean, garden, do the laundry and take the garbage out and look after the kids. Christmas cake: The tradition of making your own Christmas cake was a sacred Anglo-Indian custom. Each family had a secret cake recipe, handed down from our grandparents. About a week before Christmas, the local baker was contacted. He would turn up to your home with two very large terracotta bowls that looked more like satellite dishes. One for the egg whites and one for mixing. Mum would dish out the ingredients. This was all mixed together under her watchful eye and distributed in to about dozen or so cake tins and labelled with your name on it. This labelling was all important. We did not want him to return that evening with someone else's cake recipe. Heaven forbid. Music and dance: Music, movies and socialising were high on the agenda. We loved a dance. Afternoon dance jam sessions were a magnet for the teenagers where we jived, jitterbugged, tangoed or just fox-trotted. Many a lasting liaison was forged on the dance floor and today many of us are celebrating 40-year plus marriages. Our mums sat around gossiping and seldom took their eyes off their darling daughters. I know I speak from experience. I met my wife at one such event and now 44 years later I still fancy her. The Anglo-Indian railway and cantonment towns that sprung up around the major cities cultivated a unique social and industrial blend with a heartbeat. Their dances were legendary. At the drop of a hat, the city cousins would jump on a train and travel for anything up to six hours to get to that up-country dance. Many of our lives revolved around the biggest and best railway system in the world. And the trains ran on time! Today, the Indian Railways transports over five billion passengers each year, employing more than 1.6 million personnel. Between 1853 and 1947, we built and managed 42 rail systems. This was a legacy we can be proud of. Contributions: During World War I, about 8,000 Anglo-Indians fought in Mesopotamia, East Africa, and in the European theatre -- three Anglo-Indians were awarded Victoria Crosses. In World War II, they fought at Dunkirk and flew in the battle of Britain. Guy Gibson of the Dam Busters was one such Anglo-Indian, and we were in North Africa, Malaya and the fall of Singapore. Merle Oberon and Juliet Prowse, Tony Brent, Engelbert Humperdinck, Cliff Richards are all Anglo-Indians. The Anglo-Indians took India to Olympic hockey glory. From 1928, India won five consecutive Olympic hockey gold medals. In fact, when India faced Australia in the semi-finals of the 1960 Olympics in Rome, it was a unique occasion. The captains who came face to face were both Anglo-Indians -- Leslie Claudius and Kevin Carton. Education: English education played a major role amongst the Anglo-Indians. Anglo-Indian schools numbered close to 300 and were prized. They stretched from Bangalore in the South to the cooler northern hill stations of Darjeeling in the foothills of the Himalayas. Each was modelled on the posh English public school system. We ran them as teachers and principals and to this day, these schools are coveted across the sub-continent. Identity dilemma: The Anglo-Indian has always faced an identity dilemma because of our mixed origins. Europeans said they were Indians with some European blood; Indians said they were Europeans with some Indian blood. The world of Anglo-India vanished on August 15, 1947 when India became the largest independent democracy in the world. The British packed and went home. Over 300,000 Anglo-Indians remained. We felt apprehensive and abandoned. So we, too, packed our bags and began to migrate to Australia, Britain, Canada, the U.S.A. and New Zealand. Many of you will remember the dreaded Income Tax Clearance document you need to leave the country and further faced the strict Indian foreign exchange regulations that allowed you only 10 pounds each. Imagine starting life in a new country with 10 quid in your pocket. Some had to leave behind their savings; others simply resorted to the risky black market, losing a 30% of savings. Identity: The Anglo-Indian identity is disappearing. We have found new lives and merged into the mainstream. Our generation, who were born in India, growing up in the 40s through to the 60s, are possibly the last true Anglo-Indians. Look around you. Where is the next generation? Most of our children were born abroad and their connection to Anglo-India is very fragile. They have married Aussies, English, Canadian or other Anglo-Indians born outside India. They prefer to be regarded as English, Australian or Canadian. Our grandchildren will assimilate and forge a new identity based on their country of birth. Putting aside history, I believe we could regard ourselves as an exotic cocktail that had its origins over 300 years ago. We have matured and become a unique aromatic spirit, generously flavoured and very stimulating. We were a force to be reckoned with. We were the shakers and the stirrers. Please pick up your glasses and toast your State of Origin and New Horizons. Source: SAR News, Bangalore.

Sunday, Jul 25, 2010 Unsung hero of Madras Of the administrators of the colonial era in Tamil Nadu, Sir Thomas Munro stands out for his deep love of the land and people. Is the recent decision to remove his statue in Chennai justified, asks V.SRIRAM http://www.hindu.com/mag/2010/07/25/stories/2010072550230500.htm --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar

23 July 2010 The upheavals, the ups and downs, successes and failures of Cooch Behar's maharajas, theirs efforts to introduce European cultures and technologies are of enormous historic interest. Sadly, writes Santanu Basu, its residents are generally oblivious of past glory and heritage. http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=335602&catid=57 --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar

23 July 2010 How Britain said farewell to its Empire http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10740852 --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar

Thanks Liz, Worth a try, Best wishes, Mary ----- Original Message ----- From: "Liz" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2010 2:25 PM Subject: Re: [INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ] Singapore newspapers digitised > To Mary > > If you take the time to search these digital resources you will find > various > reports of Indian items in them. > > Also, I posted a couple of years ago information and the link for the > online > Hong Kong newspapers from 1850 onwards which includes a great deal on > India > as the news was regularly telegraphed from India to Hong Kong as well as > being transported by the ships. Look in the India list archives for the > link which includes detailed instructions on how to use the Hong Kong > online > newspaper archives. Well worth taking a look. > > Best wishes > Liz > Researching Chater or Armenians in India and Hong Kong in 2010? > Please go to www.chater-genealogy.com. > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

To Mary If you take the time to search these digital resources you will find various reports of Indian items in them. Also, I posted a couple of years ago information and the link for the online Hong Kong newspapers from 1850 onwards which includes a great deal on India as the news was regularly telegraphed from India to Hong Kong as well as being transported by the ships. Look in the India list archives for the link which includes detailed instructions on how to use the Hong Kong online newspaper archives. Well worth taking a look. Best wishes Liz Researching Chater or Armenians in India and Hong Kong in 2010? Please go to www.chater-genealogy.com.

Dear Listers, I'm new to the list but not to India which I've visited many times and love with passion! I wonder if any of the Indian newspapers are digitised. The husband of a cousin was in the 24th Mountain Brigade, Quetta, and a Major in the 18th Sohar Pack Battery MC. He died in on the 10th March 1930 and was buried in Quetta next day.He was Alan Hartree, and it seems my cousin stayed on in India as a nurse until 1946. She was Gladys Helena Margaret Hartree. Is it likely that records of Alan's army service or of Gladys' nursing service survive? I wouldbe good to learn some more of the type of life they led. Best wishes, Mary from a dull and damp Cumbria From: "Ruth in Brum" <[email protected]> To: "India" <[email protected]> Cc: "India-Raj" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2010 11:05 AM Subject: [INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ] Singapore newspapers digitised > This is very useful! > Various Singapore newspapers have been digitised. > > http://newspapers.nl.sg/ > > Have fun. > > Regards, Ruth in Brum. > Birmingham, England - where it's quite sunny but rainclouds overhead... > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hello Harshawardhan, I have rad through literal hundreds and hundreds of Sir Thomas Munro's letters and those of people who wrote to him. Brought up with an undrstanding that colonial rule was wrong, and that the colonialists oppressed all over whom they ruled, it was a relevation to read the inner and often private thoughts of men like Munro and his circle. He knew that much of what had been happening was wrong. He also took enormous efforts to enable Indian's to be able to take back control of India. He did't want any further increase in British in India, and tried for instance to slow down the numbers of British women going to India. He tried to get not just the land revenue system changed, but also the justice system so that it worked better for Indian's. It was a tradegy that Cholera took his life when it did, and effectively stopped reform in its tracks. India would have been a very happier place if he had been spared for a few more years. It is sad Munro's statue is being removed, and I hope it won't be destroyed. A future generation will quite possibly want it reinstated when it has had access for long enough to the original texts to allow it to make up its own mind. Nick Balmer ----- Original Message ----- From: "Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2010 1:03 PM Subject: [INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ] Unsung hero of Madras > > > Sunday, Jul 25, 2010 > > Unsung hero of Madras > > Of the administrators of the colonial era in Tamil Nadu, > Sir Thomas Munro stands out for his deep love of the > land and people. Is the recent decision to remove his > statue in Chennai justified, asks V.SRIRAM > > http://www.hindu.com/mag/2010/07/25/stories/2010072550230500.htm > > --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

This is very useful! Various Singapore newspapers have been digitised. http://newspapers.nl.sg/ Have fun. Regards, Ruth in Brum. Birmingham, England - where it's quite sunny but rainclouds overhead...

Dear Listers, July 24, 1860 is the date on which the first Income Tax Act of India, Act XXXII of 1860, received the assent of the Viceroy and direct taxation of income commenced in India. Today is the 150th anniversary of that significant but almost forgotten event. The creator of that Act, James Wilson, who was the Finance Member of the Viceroy's Council, was sent to India for this express purpose. He came to India in 1659 and was dead within 8 months of arrival but left behind, as his creation, Act XXXII of 1860. The following extract about him is taken from the Wikipedia entry on James Wilson at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Wilson_(UK_politician) "In August 1859 Wilson resigned these offices and his seat in parliament to sit as the financial member of the Council of India. He was sent to India to establish the tax structure, a new paper currency and remodel the finance system of India after the revolt of 1857. However, he was in office only a year before he died. In 1860 he refused to leave the stifling summer heat of Calcutta, contracted dysentery and died in August of that year, aged 55. Strangely even though he contributed greatly to the financial set-up of the British empire in India, he lay buried unknown at a cemetery at Mullick Bazar in Kolkata. His grave was discovered in 2007 by CP Bhatia, an assistant commissioner of Income Tax, while he was researching a book on India's tax history. Due to the efforts of CP Bhatia the tombstone was restored by the Christian Burial Board, thus restoring some dignity to a man that was in a way one of the forefathers of the Indian Tax structure." More information on James Wilson, including a photo of his gravestone, may be seen at http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090811/jsp/calcutta/story_11343895.jsp. His other significant contribution is that he founded in 1843 and edited for its first 16 years the journal 'Economist', which continues to be published till date and is one of the influential journals of the modern times. For this please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Economist Arvind Kolhatkar, Toronto, July 24, 2010.

A long blog essay published today. I have not read it as yet. ''The Army in India c1798'' https://kenbaker.wordpress.com/british-empire/british-india/the-army-in-india-c1798/ --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar

Dear Harshawardhan, Thank you very much for that - an interesting life, and his writing is very interesting, particuarly regarding his early history of The Pathans, and his interpretation of Herodotus and Alexander's route to India regards, Chris ----- Original Message ----- From: "Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2010 8:08 AM Subject: Re: [INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ] Sir Olaf Caroe - biography or obituary > Please check your inbox, Chris, an off-list mail follows. > Hopefully you'll find it somewhat useful. > > And here is something online - Review of the book ''The Future > of The Great Game: Sir Olaf Caroe, India's Independence, > and the Defense of Asia'' by Peter John Brobst; The University > of Akron Press, Akron, Ohio; pages 199, $39.95 > http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl2309/stories/20060519001908300.htm > > Cheers, > > --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar >

I came across this up-coming auction of India related items. Sale 0006: Antiquarian Books, Maps, Prints & Photographs Catalogue can be downloaded here http://www.bidandhammer.com/pdf/Sale_0006_14-7-2010.pdf Registration & General Enquiries: please contact us by email on [email protected] or by phone +91 80 3202 9681/2/3 ... Viewing: 13th August - 16th August 2010, 10am to 7pm Alliance Francaise de Bangalore: 108 Thimmaiah Road, Vasanthnagar (opp. UNI building), Bangalore - 5600052. Ph: 080 41231344/ 41231346 Auction: 17th August 2010, at sharp 7:00pm (IST) (STRICTLY BY REGISTRATION ONLY.) I have no connection with the auction house. Best wishes Liz Researching Chater or Armenians in India and Hong Kong in 2010? Please go to <http://www.chater-genealogy.com/> www.chater-genealogy.com.

G'day Sally, On 22/07/2010, at 4:51 PM, karoo wrote: <<< Some years ago, a lister introduced us to a search engine beginning with the letter 'C '! I wish I could recall the longish word so that I might use that particular search again. Can anybody remember ? >> try this ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_search_engines ooroo

Hello Everybody Some years ago, a lister introduced us to a search engine beginning with the letter 'C '! I wish I could recall the longish word so that I might use that particular search again. Can anybody remember ? Many thanks Sally

Please check your inbox, Chris, an off-list mail follows. Hopefully you'll find it somewhat useful. And here is something online - Review of the book ''The Future of The Great Game: Sir Olaf Caroe, India's Independence, and the Defense of Asia'' by Peter John Brobst; The University of Akron Press, Akron, Ohio; pages 199, $39.95 http://www.hindu.com/fline/fl2309/stories/20060519001908300.htm Cheers, --- Harshawardhan_Bosham Nimkhedkar ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chris Woods" I am looking for an obituary, or biography of Sir Olaf Caroe, 'last governor of the North West Frontier' and writer of many interesting articles and books including the definitive history of The Pathans. Every time I look on the web I am asked to either pay for the information, or access through some password controlled program such as 'Athens'. I would be most grateful for any information about Sir Olaf, in particular his latter life from his time as First Secretary in Britain's Government of India, until his death. An interesting and perhaps controversial man.

I am looking for an obituary, or biography of Sir Olaf Caroe, 'last governor of the North West Frontier' and writer of many interesting articles and books including the definitive history of The Pathans. Every time I look on the web I am asked to either pay for the information, or access through some password controlled program such as 'Athens'. I would be most grateful for any information about Sir Olaf, in particular his latter life from his time as First Secretary in Britain's Government of India, until his death. An interesting and perhaps controversial man. Thank you, Chris

http://lynettesilver.com/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,33/ WWII PoWs of the Japanese in Singapore. ooroo

Hello Thanks to the help of a fellow list member I now know where and when certain people were born,baptised and died in India,from imformation on Family Search,just how and from whom could I obtain original copies of said records,Please Regards Sue

David, I have replied separately to you and attached lists of Lodges in India. Hope they help. Best wishes Liz Researching Chater or Armenians in India and Hong Kong in 2010? Please go to www.chater-genealogy.com.