CONTENTS


The Anglo-Indians: Transcolonial Migrants and the Dilemma of Identity By Sheila Pais James
The 6th International Anglo-Indian Reunion 2004 - A Blast from the Past? By Dr. Gloria Moore and Ms. Patricia McGready
Virtual Verandah How The Internet Has Brought Anglo-Indians Together by Lionel Lumb
Thomas Legge, Irish Adventurer Turned Fakir by Allen Foster
Goans and Anglo- Indians: An Essay By Nagendra Rao


EDITORIAL


Welcome to the 14th issue of the International Journal of Anglo-Indian Studies (writes Lionel Lumb). Its founding editor, Dr. Adrian Gilbert, has invited me to join him as co-editor. As a longtime admirer of Adrian’s pioneering role in giving Anglo-Indians an international stage for their academic and literary work, I consider this a privilege and an honour. The Internet has brought Anglo-Indians together as never before, and it’s somehow fitting that the Journal and the Anglo-Indian Wallah now have a co-editor living the other side of the world from Australia. My home is in Ottawa, Canada. I’ve been a journalist, print and television, most of my life, but spent the last 12 years as an Associate Professor teaching journalism at Ottawa’s Carleton University. I’m delighted to serve our community alongside Adrian.

Once again it’s been about a year since the last issue of the IJAIS was published – a crowded and exciting year for Anglo-Indian endeavour. In January almost three thousand of us gathered in Melbourne for the 6th World Anglo-Indian Reunion. It was wonderful to witness the energy, creativity and organizational skills its sponsors brought to the event. In addition to a heartwarming meet-and-greet afternoon, the reunion included an entertaining pagal gymkhana, a memorable cruise around Melbourne Harbour, and a magnificent grand ball and dinner at Melbourne’s impressive Royal Exhibition Hall. On the more serious side, organizers staged an informative and successful symposium on the community’s past, present and future, and Adrian Gilbert convened an International Conference for Anglo-Indian Poverty and Ageing.

A little later in the year, the winners of the Anglo-Indian Prose and Poetry Contest were announced. Top prize for prose went to Kathleen Cassity for her short story, Butterfly, a poignant and bravely unsentimental portrait of a spirited Anglo-Indian’s final illness as told by his daughter. Kathleen Cassity, a PhD candidate living in Hawaii, has previously contributed two papers to the IJAIS. The honours in poetry went to Darryl Earle, a school teacher-librarian in Toronto, Canada, for Calcutta ’94. In a few touching verses he reminds Anglo-Indians of their roots and responsibilities. His character’s small act of charity to an elderly Anglo-Indian woman on the streets of Calcutta admirably captures the spirit of the contest and its wonderful outcome: Voices on the Verandah: An Anthology of Anglo-Indian Prose and Poetry. All the gross sales of this handsome volume from CTR Inc. Publishing will go towards the Tiljallah Relief charity. The collection of 22 stories and 29 poems is edited by Margaret Deefholts and Sylvia Staub, and published by Blair Williams. Blair founded the US-based charity in 1999 to “support (in India) the destitute Anglo-Indian elderly and children from families too poor to fund their schooling”. For good measure, the anthology includes an additional ten pieces from guest contributors such as Ruskin Bond, William Dalrymple, Russell Lucas and Gloria Jean Moore. The book was launched on November 6, 2004, in Toronto at a dinner-dance to raise money for the Tiljallah Relief. Blair Williams and Margaret Deefholts were both present, and must have been delighted to see the brisk sales. Find out more about this outstanding Anglo-Indian publication at:

http://www.margaretdeefholts.com/bookreviewvoicesontheverandah.html

In this edition of the Journal, Sheila Jean Pais returns with another paper in her ongoing study of the dilemmas of identity facing Anglo-Indians after India’s independence, as they left their country of birth for new lives in Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Sheila is studying in Adelaide, at the Department of Sociology, Flinders University of South Australia.

There are two articles relating to the 6th Reunion. The first, by Dr. Gloria Jean Moore and Patricia McGready, calls the event successful, memorable and enjoyable, altogether a “splendid opportunity to renew family bonds and friendships and meet new and interesting people from the world over”. But it is critical of media pieces the authors feel contained disturbing and inaccurate views regarding Anglo-Indian identity and culture. Gloria Jean Moore has been a contributor to the Journal and the author of several books, including The Lotus and the Rose and The Anglo-Indian Vision. Patricia McGready is a school teacher in Melbourne, has been involved in helping to raise money for CTR, and has worked with Dr. Gilbert on organizing his last two Anglo-Indian conferences (you can find out more about them on this Web site).

The other is a paper I presented at the Reunion symposium in January. Entitled Virtual Verandah, it explores the ways in which the Internet has brought Anglo-Indians together as never before – sharing a burgeoning camaraderie on the “verandah” of the Web. As the previous article suggests, we may disagree among ourselves from time to time. But in the broad sweep of our ongoing joyful rediscovery of roots and culture, we use the Internet to bind the community into an overall cohesive whole, proud of its ancestry and achievements in India.

For those readers who like their history spiced with adventure, Allen Foster tells the fascinating story of Thomas Legge, who ran away from his home in Donaghdee, Ulster (Northern Ireland), and joined the Swallow, a sloop of war heading for Madras. Legge developed an interest in Indian alchemy and divination, became a mercenary and master gun-maker, and ended his days as a fakir, living naked in an empty tomb in the deserts of Rajasthan outside Jaipur. Allen Foster has written before for the Journal.

Finally, Nagendra Rao analyses and compares the distinctive characteristics of Goan and Anglo-Indian history and culture.

Please keep your work coming in – Dr. Adrian Gilbert and Prof. Lionel Lumb Editors of the IJAIS.

Dr. Adrian Gilbert - Editor, The International Journal of Anglo-Indian studies.

Prof. Lionel Lumb - Editor, The International Journal of Anglo-Indian studies.



CONTRIBUTIONS

The editors will consider for publication short articles or research notes dealing with the Anglo-Indians. The issues covered in the articles may range from history, sociology and psychology to econometrics. Preference will be given to pieces emphasising current research data that might not otherwise be published. Material should be sent to the Editor - International Journal of Anglo-Indian Studies, The Centre of Anglo-Indian Studies, 1 Kurt Place, Noble Park, Victoria, Australia. 3174. Alternately, material may be sent directly via E-mail to the Editors Dr. Adrian Gilbert or Prof. Lionel Lumb


Individuals or organisations wishing to cite the work published in the International Journal of Anglo-Indian Studies, either in full or in part, should in the first instance obtain permission from the Editors.