The Anglo-Indians

by Vikas Kamat
First Online: November 02,2006
Page Last Updated: June 28,2009

The Anglo-Indians are minority community in India who are descendants of mixed race marriages between English rulers during the British Raj and local Indians. Over the years they have evolved their own identity, culture, and food habits.

The Anglo-Indians were shunned both by the English as well as by Indians and were despised. This led to a lot of inter-marrying in the community and eventually large scale migration away from India. Today more Anglo-Indians are found outside of India than within.

A popular Hollywood movie Bhowani Junction (1956, George Cukor Director) depicted the identity crisis of the Anglo-Indian community after the withdrawal of British from India. Interestingly, many Anglo-Indians (for example, Henry De'Roziyo, who is regarded as the first revolutionary) indeed fought for a free India along with Congress and other revolutionary forces.

In modern times, Cricketer Roger Binny who was instrumental in India's 1983 World Cup Victory brought  the community a lot of pride.

See Also:

• The British Raj