ANGLO-INDIANS: THE DILEMMA OF IDENTITY Sheila Pais James Department of Sociology Flinders University of S.A. Paper presented at Counterpoints Flinders University Postgraduate Conference South Australia 19 -20 April 2001 E-mail Sheila James:
[email protected] ABSTRACT On the eve of departure of the British from India, the Anglo-Indians found themselves in an invidious situation - caught between the European attitude of superiority towards Indian and Anglo-Indian alike and the Indian mistrust of them, due to their aloofness and their Western - oriented culture. One of the problems the Anglo-Indian community has always faced is one of ‘Identity’. In the early days of the colonial rule it was difficult for the Anglo-Indians to answer with certainty the question "Who am I?" As a genuine community consciousness developed this identity dilemma lessened but it was never firmly resolved. With the British leaving India and as opportunities for a resolution of identity conflict through migration faded a new identity orientation was necessary. Many Anglo-Indians, who were unable to make such a turn-about of identity and feeling insecure without the protective imperial umbrella, opted to leave India. Thus, victims of dilemma and indiscretion throughout their existence thousands of Anglo-Indians left for safe shores - Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. For Anglo-Indians who have left India and settled abroad a similar problem of Identity again arises. IJAIS Vol. 7, No. 1. 2003, p. 3-17 www.international-journal-of-anglo-indian-studies.org Anglo-Indians: The Dilemma of Identity 4 INTRODUCTION This paper is a preliminary outline of the discourses surrounding the Anglo-Indians and their Dilemma of Identity.