Great article, thanks, John. John > > > G'day > > Begin forwarded message: > >> From: jack jacob <jfrjacob@gmail.com> >> Date: 10 September 2012 3:13:07 GMT+02:00 >> To: undisclosed-recipients: ; >> Subject: [vsdh] Fwd: anglo indians >> Reply-To: vsdh <vsdh@lists.bcn.mythic-beasts.com> >> >> >> >> -------HI ALL.... FORWARDED.. >> ......JFR JACOB-- >> >> >> >> >> ----- Forwarded Message ----- >> >> Subject: This interesting for anybody from India! F >> >> History of the Anglo-Indians >> Almost a history of a bygone race - rather lovely -......our children >> are missing this rainbow of culture.... >> >> This was a speech given by a Senior Anglo Indian Army Veteran at a >> dinner dance in Sydney last year. >> >> Good Evening Ladies & Gentleman. Welcome to this special evening. I'm >> attempting to condense over 300 years of Anglo-Indian history in to 10 >> minutes. >> >> 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, French and the British >> followed. >> >> They were all here for the duration. The inevitable happened and a new >> mixed race community emerged. Even though the British came in peacefully >> as merchants and traders they soon colonized the sub-continent 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 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 beauty to match. >> >> Were we favored? Yes, the English trusted us. After all we were blood >> related. 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, >> cleaner and 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 labeled with your name on it. This labeling was all >> important. We did not want him to return that evening with someone >> else's cake recipe. Heaven forbid. >> >> MUSIC/DANCE >> Music, movies and socializing were high on the agenda. We loved a dance. >> Afternoon dance jam sessions were a magnet for the teenagers where we >> jived, jitterbugged, tango'd 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 5 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 1 about 8000 Anglo-Indians fought in Mesopotamia, East >> Africa, and in the European theatre - Eleven 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 >> modeled 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 15th 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 your >> savings. >> >> IDENTITY >> The Anglo-Indian identity is disappearing. We have found new lives and >> merged into the mainstream. Our generation, sitting here tonight, who >> were born in India, growing up in the 40s thru to 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 flavored and very >> stimulating. >> >> We were a force to be reckoned with. >> >> >> >> >> To unsubscribe from this email List, send an email to: >> vsdh-unsubscribe@lists.bcn.mythic-beasts.com >> _______________________________________________ >> vsdh mailing list >> %(www.vsdh.org) >> vsdh@lists.bcn.mythic-beasts.com > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Thanks, John. -----Original Message----- From: badhamgj <badhamgj@actrix.co.nz> To: india-british-raj <india-british-raj@rootsweb.com> Cc: Raj <india-british-raj-l@rootsweb.com> Sent: Mon, Sep 10, 2012 1:45 pm Subject: Re: [INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ] Anglo-Indians Great article, thanks, John. John > > > G'day > > Begin forwarded message: > >> From: jack jacob <jfrjacob@gmail.com> >> Date: 10 September 2012 3:13:07 GMT+02:00 >> To: undisclosed-recipients: ; >> Subject: [vsdh] Fwd: anglo indians >> Reply-To: vsdh <vsdh@lists.bcn.mythic-beasts.com> >> >> >> >> -------HI ALL.... FORWARDED.. >> ......JFR JACOB-- >> >> >> >> >> ----- Forwarded Message ----- >> >> Subject: This interesting for anybody from India! F >> >> History of the Anglo-Indians >> Almost a history of a bygone race - rather lovely -......our children >> are missing this rainbow of culture.... >> >> This was a speech given by a Senior Anglo Indian Army Veteran at a >> dinner dance in Sydney last year. >> >> Good Evening Ladies & Gentleman. Welcome to this special evening. I'm >> attempting to condense over 300 years of Anglo-Indian history in to 10 >> minutes. >> >> 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, French and the British >> followed. >> >> They were all here for the duration. The inevitable happened and a new >> mixed race community emerged. Even though the British came in peacefully >> as merchants and traders they soon colonized the sub-continent 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 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 beauty to match. >> >> Were we favored? Yes, the English trusted us. After all we were blood >> related. 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, >> cleaner and 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 labeled with your name on it. This labeling was all >> important. We did not want him to return that evening with someone >> else's cake recipe. Heaven forbid. >> >> MUSIC/DANCE >> Music, movies and socializing were high on the agenda. We loved a dance. >> Afternoon dance jam sessions were a magnet for the teenagers where we >> jived, jitterbugged, tango'd 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 5 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 1 about 8000 Anglo-Indians fought in Mesopotamia, East >> Africa, and in the European theatre - Eleven 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 >> modeled 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 15th 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 your >> savings. >> >> IDENTITY >> The Anglo-Indian identity is disappearing. We have found new lives and >> merged into the mainstream. Our generation, sitting here tonight, who >> were born in India, growing up in the 40s thru to 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 flavored and very >> stimulating. >> >> We were a force to be reckoned with. >> >> >> >> >> To unsubscribe from this email List, send an email to: >> vsdh-unsubscribe@lists.bcn.mythic-beasts.com >> _______________________________________________ >> vsdh mailing list >> %(www.vsdh.org) >> vsdh@lists.bcn.mythic-beasts.com > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to INDIA-BRITISH-RAJ-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message