Chennai and its dwindling Anglo-Indian presence
The shrunken population of Anglo-Indian community came into focus at a documentary presentation made by Harry MacLure and Rishard O’connonr as a part of Madras Week celebrations.
Before Independence, the community had found gainful employment with the British government in Railway, Postal and Education sector.
With a robust population going well over several lakhs post independence, the Anglo-Indians continued to retain their European lifestyle through dance, music, food and language.
Post-Independence, their reservation for jobs in the Indian government was slowly phased out in gaps of two years. For parts of the community which failed to opt for higher qualifications, an economic wedge was created.
An Anglo-Indian by the Constitution of India is anyone who has an established European paternal lineage and is currently residing in India. Contrary to common belief, the community also includes Lusitanians whose forefathers were Portuguese, French, and Irish.
But, children borne by inter-married women however, are refused Anglo-Indian status much like the policy followed by the Parsi community.
The documentary ‘The Anglo-Indians of Madras’ pulls us back to present day architectural residues of the community in the form of churches, schools and locked down houses along prominent roads like Leith Castle Road. For the scattered inhabitants of the community spread across Santhhome, George Town, Royapettah, Pallavaram and Perambur, the documentary breathes nostalgia.
“It took me close to one and a half months to track down houses, families and the monuments I wanted to show”, said director Harry MacLure.
Currently, inter-marriage and mass scale migration of a better qualified generation is sounding the knell for the community. For families and individuals that settle in Australia and Britain, there is little to come back to in India except an ailing parent and a ram shackled vintage house.
