Anglo-Indians: The Forgotten Pillars of British India, 1600-1947

A photo-documentary of some milestones in the history of the Anglo-Indians from 1600 - 1947

[@warden2351]

A well-deserved tribute to a small but dynamic community - usually misunderstood in the cross-fire of conflicting stereotypical views - who, nonetheless, met their moment in history steadfastly and have gone on to being a credit to whichever nation has been wise enough to accept them. In history's books they have given much and asked for little in return. Thank you Clayton for this signal effort.

[@robertavaughan-saunders4666]

I am Anglo Indian and watched this avidly with sadness I live in the U.K. but my fondest memories are the ones I cherish when I lived in Calcutta

[@robynbaptiste2956]

As an Anglo-Indian living in the UK. I feel much more drawn to my Indian heritage than the British one. I've converted to Hinduism. Jai Hind!!

[@jaijind8166]

Most of my best friends have been, so-called "Anglo Indians". Since they chose not to leave India , when given an option, they were Indians just like any other. The problem was their ways of European lifestyle, Music. dancing etc. which isolated them. They are beautiful people. Love them with all my heart.

[@hoshiarsingh6523]

Very knowledgeable and in reality Anglo Indians were the real pillars of English Raj.Also their immense contribution to Indian progress is marvellous.

[@rameshnambiar8237]

I think India has been largely unkind to one of the most hardworking happy go lucky communities who eventually migrated overseas to find some respect in conditions of anonymity. This country is so caste , colour and creed consious that Anglo Indians would find it tough without total assimilation into Indian culture. Some of them did succeed. UK has been even unkinder!!!!

[@sicmesicme2360]

If I were of Anglo Indian ancestry, I would still have continued to proudly wear my Dharmic identity 🙏

[@bigtexan7562]

Shame to India that it had to hand over its beautiful women to India’s English conquerors.

[@russelltristram8038]

Proud to be an Anglo Indian.

[@derekmichaeldcosta2350]

Some of the music is particularly appealing to me, as it is the same music that was played by the military bands during the sports & athletic events of my school, the St. Joseph's European (now Boys') High School, Bangalore, India. I attended the school from 1958 to 1963, graduating with a Senior Cambridge H. S. Certificate, in December 1963. My Mom, the former Miss Ivy D'Souza of Nagpur, India also did the same Senior Cambridge Exam in Nagpur in 1933, She went on to obtain one of the first B.Sc.degrees awarded to a female in India, from the University of Nagpur in 1937. Derek Michael D'Costa, SJEHS'63, IIT-Kgp'69, P.Eng.'76, FEC'09, OVSA'10, PEO-WT'18. Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S2T9. February 13, 2018

[@hkalsi2136]

The Anglo Indians were a privileged class in India even after Independence of India. The Indians treated them well regarding them as their kin. They looked Indian because of tanned colour from the maternal Indian lineage with english names and mixed features. Essentially the Hindus are the distant mammas of Anglo Indians. The anglo indians were liked for their music orchestras playing popular western tunes in posh restaurants, radio, fashion clothes. The young anglo indian girls were preferably hired straight after high school as stenos, secretaries by businesses. Generally the view of Anglo Indians by other Indians was that they go to Church and eat cakes, pastries which Indians liked to eat if they could afford to. The British had reduced Indians to terrible poverty and living conditions after 200 years of ruling them. It was done through tax, axe the timber and exploiting cheap labour to make enormous money which was remitted to England to enrich Britain. Economists have estimated Britain took 47 Trillion dollars equivalent in to-days value. When the British arrived in India, the share of world GDP by India was 28% and when British left it became 2.8%. By employing harsh policies and running apartheid like system the British caused immense harm to the Indians and finally setting back by 100 years by partitioning Indian on religious lines. 14 million Indians lost their homes in 1947 and several million dead or maimed because of unorderly transfer of power in 73 days. The Anglo Indians were abandoned by the British as they never regarded them well or equal to white europeans. Later in UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand the anglo Indians faced discrimination and abuse from white english, irish, scots, germans, italians, french in these countries. They were treated at par with Indians there. However the Anglo Indians have survived and done quite well in these countries now. It is because of their cheerfulness and adjusting to new conditions and accepting the reality.

[@lorrainealmeida9544]

Very informative video being an Anglo Indian it's feels so proud to know about our ancestors. My father served in the Telegraph for 38 years, my uncle's were in the Railways.

[@njtaylor3911]

Born in khurdaroad orrisa

[@Ozmulki]

A wonderful portrayal of Anglo-Indian history including employment and social history. Well done Clayton.

[@leonjlyell3007]

Thanks! An interesting glimpse into the lives of Anglo-Indians. Lots of interesting pictures mini-biographies and snippets of historical information. I'm sure there is much more to tell, but let's hope the story is no longer 'forgotten'.

[@Jin-dc7gl]

I am an Anglo- Indian and this video was very informative.

[@somnathbose5475]

Very well made , very informative about a warm , disciplined , multi talented people ,with whom I (born 1947) came into contact with and who gradually faded away , dispersing to far corners of the globe. Very few remain , hardly discernible from the Indian milieu . An idea of their past was always foggy . This documentary clears up a lot of that and gives rise to more enquiry . Thanks a lot .

[@MymilanitalyBlogspot]

This video has heightened my awareness of this, thank you. I especially appreciated the quotes from the constitutions, and found it telling that they do not even conceive of the possibility of Indian fathers and European mothers.

[@sumaprincipal8479]

Loved the documentary but missed the Anglo Indians of Madras.I lived among the Anglo Indians and went to school with

[@4vndd]

Beautifully researched and presented.. well done!! Thanks for sharing!!