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Anglo-India and the End of Empire
The standard image of the Raj is of an aloof, pampered and prejudiced British elite lording it over an oppressed and hostile Indian subject population. Like most caricatures, this obscures as much truth as it reveals. The British had not always been so aloof. The earlier, more cosmopolitan period of East India Company rule saw abundant 'interracial' sex and occasional marriage, alongside greater cultural openness and exchange. The result was a large and growing 'mixed-race' community, known by the early twentieth century as Anglo-Indians.
Notwithstanding its faults, Empire could never have been maintained without the active, sometimes enthusiastic, support of many colonial subjects. These included Indian elites, professionals, civil servants, businesspeople and minority groups of all kinds, who flourished under the patronage of the imperial state, and could be used in a 'divide and rule' strategy to prolong colonial rule. Independence was profoundly unsettling to those destined to become minorities in the new nation, and the Anglo-Indians were no exception.
This refreshing account looks at the dramatic end of British rule in India through Anglo-Indian eyes, a perspective that is neither colonial apologia nor nationalist polemic. Its history resonates strikingly with the complex identity debates of the twenty-first century.
Notwithstanding its faults, Empire could never have been maintained without the active, sometimes enthusiastic, support of many colonial subjects. These included Indian elites, professionals, civil servants, businesspeople and minority groups of all kinds, who flourished under the patronage of the imperial state, and could be used in a 'divide and rule' strategy to prolong colonial rule. Independence was profoundly unsettling to those destined to become minorities in the new nation, and the Anglo-Indians were no exception.
This refreshing account looks at the dramatic end of British rule in India through Anglo-Indian eyes, a perspective that is neither colonial apologia nor nationalist polemic. Its history resonates strikingly with the complex identity debates of the twenty-first century.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published December 1, 2022
3 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Uther Charlton-Stevens
3 books6 followersUther Charlton-Stevens is an author, historian and Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Uther completed his doctorate in South Asian History, with a thesis on Anglo-Indians and Decolonisation, at the University of Oxford, under the supervision of Judith Brown and Francis Robinson. His first book, Anglo-Indians and Minority Politics in South Asia: Race, Boundary Making and Communal Nationalism, was published in 2017/2018 for the Royal Asiatic Society Books series by Routledge UK, with a new edition released in paperback in 2020.
Uther's latest book — Anglo-India and the End of Empire — described as "a startling new history of a community’s struggle to be heard as Empire waned in India, with echoes for all those of mixed heritage", was released towards the end of 2022 by Hurst Publishers UK, and Oxford University Press, USA. A South Asia edition is in the works with Harper Collins India.
Uther's research and writing draws inspiration from his own 'mixed-race' family, including the stories he heard during childhood summer holidays from his Anglo-Indian grandmother of her service as an officer in the Women's Auxiliary Corps (India) during the Second World War, her life and upbringing in colonial South India, and her trip to Kandahar in Afghanistan. Uther's Anglo-Indian father was born in an Army station in Ferozepore, and spent his childhood in Bangalore before migrating to the UK with his two elder siblings and widowed mother.
Praise for Anglo-India from fellow authors:
“Uther Charlton-Stevens describes in unparalleled detail the political and social circumstances of the Anglo-Indian community in India. An innovative, informative and distinctive work.” — David Arnold, Emeritus Professor of History, University of Warwick, and author of Pandemic India
“A significant contribution to the extensive and growing body of historical literature about the late British Raj period.” — Michael H. Fisher, Robert S. Danforth Professor of History, Emeritus, Oberlin College, and author of Counterflows to Colonialism: Indian Travellers and Settlers in Britain 1600–1857
“As this ambiguous, hybrid Anglo-Indian identity is stretched to breaking point, we get a valuable insight, available from no other position, into what was at stake in the racial categories of the Empire. Original, fascinating, and gripping.” — Benjamin Kingsbury, author of An Imperial Disaster: The Bengal Cyclone of 1876
“Uther Charlton-Stevens provides a rich history of the Anglo-Indian community, people of both Indian and British heritage, and explains why this small but important community deserves a greater focus… a tightly-written but highly informative historical summary of how this community has historically been overlooked or under-analyzed in traditional annals of Indian history. He makes a compelling case for why the study of this community, which has been at the centre of so many key aspects of recent Indian history, is important if we want to better understand India’s past and present. This is a comprehensive and reflective history…” — Maximillian Morch, author of By the Way of the Border: Travels Around the Frontiers and Beyuls of Nepal
Uther's latest book — Anglo-India and the End of Empire — described as "a startling new history of a community’s struggle to be heard as Empire waned in India, with echoes for all those of mixed heritage", was released towards the end of 2022 by Hurst Publishers UK, and Oxford University Press, USA. A South Asia edition is in the works with Harper Collins India.
Uther's research and writing draws inspiration from his own 'mixed-race' family, including the stories he heard during childhood summer holidays from his Anglo-Indian grandmother of her service as an officer in the Women's Auxiliary Corps (India) during the Second World War, her life and upbringing in colonial South India, and her trip to Kandahar in Afghanistan. Uther's Anglo-Indian father was born in an Army station in Ferozepore, and spent his childhood in Bangalore before migrating to the UK with his two elder siblings and widowed mother.
Praise for Anglo-India from fellow authors:
“Uther Charlton-Stevens describes in unparalleled detail the political and social circumstances of the Anglo-Indian community in India. An innovative, informative and distinctive work.” — David Arnold, Emeritus Professor of History, University of Warwick, and author of Pandemic India
“A significant contribution to the extensive and growing body of historical literature about the late British Raj period.” — Michael H. Fisher, Robert S. Danforth Professor of History, Emeritus, Oberlin College, and author of Counterflows to Colonialism: Indian Travellers and Settlers in Britain 1600–1857
“As this ambiguous, hybrid Anglo-Indian identity is stretched to breaking point, we get a valuable insight, available from no other position, into what was at stake in the racial categories of the Empire. Original, fascinating, and gripping.” — Benjamin Kingsbury, author of An Imperial Disaster: The Bengal Cyclone of 1876
“Uther Charlton-Stevens provides a rich history of the Anglo-Indian community, people of both Indian and British heritage, and explains why this small but important community deserves a greater focus… a tightly-written but highly informative historical summary of how this community has historically been overlooked or under-analyzed in traditional annals of Indian history. He makes a compelling case for why the study of this community, which has been at the centre of so many key aspects of recent Indian history, is important if we want to better understand India’s past and present. This is a comprehensive and reflective history…” — Maximillian Morch, author of By the Way of the Border: Travels Around the Frontiers and Beyuls of Nepal
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 27, 2022
My Best Collection in 2022 is Anglo-India and the End of Empire from Uther Charlton-Stevens.
I was completely ignorant about the Anglo-Indians, but the author explains the subject in an easy-to-understand way. A documentary history with a lot of information that is very helpful to get to know these Anglo-Indians. The product of marriages between first the Portuguese, then British and other European men and native Indian women, The book accurately describes a very important part of our history from a forgotten POV which helped me understand it even better and realize the struggles and pain from all angles.
An informative, documentary, authentic history. The author displays brilliant writing skills. I found it just awesome, so I really hope you will enjoy this book if you start reading it.
I was completely ignorant about the Anglo-Indians, but the author explains the subject in an easy-to-understand way. A documentary history with a lot of information that is very helpful to get to know these Anglo-Indians. The product of marriages between first the Portuguese, then British and other European men and native Indian women, The book accurately describes a very important part of our history from a forgotten POV which helped me understand it even better and realize the struggles and pain from all angles.
An informative, documentary, authentic history. The author displays brilliant writing skills. I found it just awesome, so I really hope you will enjoy this book if you start reading it.
March 20, 2023
Imperialism, Colonialism and Empire had many lasting consequences, not least that of the millions of mixed-race people who were born as a result of inter-racial union. The Anglo-Indian (who was neither Anglo nor Indian) is a cultural and racial hybrid dating back to the very early days of the East India Company's rule in India. During the Raj, British-Indian relationships faced stigma, which meant that the ethnicity of some Anglo-Indians was undocumented or identified incorrectly. The ease at which many Anglo-Indians were able to ‘pass’ as white in order to further their careers (some very successfully in Hollywood) made this minority group sink further into obscurity. The Anglo-Indian story, and their part in the wider drama of decolonisation have been consistently overlooked in both British and Indian accounts. This, in turn, has seen a lack of books about ‘Anglos’ which makes Anglo-India and The End of Empire by Uther Charlton-Stevens an important and necessary read.
This excellent and detailed study takes the reader back to the 1600s where, owing to an initial lack of British women, the men were encouraged to marry native Indian girls rather than the many Portuguese for fear of offspring being raised as Roman Catholics. Until 1741, a special payment was made to each soldier who had his child baptised Protestant. Initially referred to as Eurasian but also Indo-Briton, Asiatic-Briton, Anglo-Asiatic, East Indian and even Half Caste, this new ethnic group formed a small yet significant portion of the population and became well represented, forming their own official associations. In the early days children born Eurasian would be taken from their Indian mothers and placed in class-segregated orphanages then sent to the army or married off to a soldier. This harsh practice helps explain why the bulk were so profoundly orientated towards Britain and deracinated from Indian society and culture. To further cement the ‘British’ bond the group’s leaders vigorously campaigned to be referred to as Anglo-Indian, which was officially sanctioned in the 1911 census of India. In this sense they are one of the oldest, most politically developed and self-conscious mixed-race groups to have emerged from the colonial encounter.
Over generations, Anglo-Indians intermarried with other Anglo-Indians to form a community that developed a culture of its own. Their cuisine, dress, English language, and Christian religion all served to separate them from the Indian population, yet bind themselves together. They formed social clubs and organisations and were specifically recruited into the railways, nursing and teaching professions; they served in the armed forces in both world wars. Yet, these mixed people, despite their fierce loyalty to the British had no guarantees or safeguards to protect them from a cruel fate.
Charlton-Stevens brings to light the struggle of the community leaders and how they tried to encourage pride in an Indian Motherland as opposed to a British so-called Fatherland that many, if not all, had never visited. Faced with the question of India’s independence there was to be a very rude awakening. This was an era of extreme turmoil including rising sartorial nationalism amid attacks in the streets for wearing topis and western-style suits and ties. Even the politically engaged and well-informed found it difficult to anticipate the dramatic changes that were to come, or the decisiveness of the rupture. In the midst of far weightier concerns, Anglo-Indians were hardly thought of in the run up to the disastrously hasty British ‘transfer of power’.
Through latter stages of decolonisation, and even following independence, there was a call for a new Israel-style mixed-race nation or collective settlement overseas to be dubbed Anglo-India, Britasia or Eurasia where Anglo-Indians, Anglo-Burmans and similar Eurasian peoples from Malaya and Hong Kong could resettle in another part of the empire. The Andaman Islands in particular were envisaged as a potential site, but the British dismissed the idea stating that the islands were too rural, that the Anglo-Indians were city dwellers and not suited to an agricultural life, so this scheme was quashed. Their position at this time was extremely difficult as their leaders attempted to negotiate terms with the incoming Indian government and integrate the community within the new India and get them to seek pride in mixedness. Seats in the Indian parliament were requested (and eventually granted), citing their historical exceptionalism as the only real racial-cum-linguistic minority in India over a period of 300 years to have evolved into a distinctive minority.
Charlton-Stevens shows us through documented evidence, how the Anglo-Indians argued amongst themselves as to what was best for them. Britain was keen to wash its hands of postcolonial liabilities and discouraged Anglo-Indians from going to England to settle and tightened up their procedures for granting passports. Despite the protestations and sensible arguments given by their leader Frank Anthony, many left for England or Christian countries of the wider anglosphere; former ‘White Dominions’ where the colour prejudice was rife and where, to the ignorant settler colonials, Anglo-Indians were “nothing but black men”. Adequate provisions for the Anglo-Indians had not been made before handing over the reins of government; Britain could not and would not help them. It was seen as a grievous act of ingratitude for all the loyal services which Britain had exacted from the Anglo-Indian community during the many crises of the preceding 300 years. At the time of independence in 1947 there were roughly 300,000 Anglo-Indians compared to about 125,000–150,000 in modern day India. Many have adapted to local communities in Kolkata and Chennai or emigrated to the London, Perth, Sydney, Toronto, the United States and New Zealand where they form part of the worldwide diaspora. My Anglo-Indian father was born in Tanjore, Tamil Nadu and migrated to England in 1956. We can trace our ancestry back to Christopher Friis a Norwegian who changed his name to Browne and settled in India mid-1800s; a family photo of ours appears in this book. The first generation of the Friis-Browne family spread far-and-wide; USA, Canada, Australia with our little branch now settled in Gibraltar.
This excellent and detailed study takes the reader back to the 1600s where, owing to an initial lack of British women, the men were encouraged to marry native Indian girls rather than the many Portuguese for fear of offspring being raised as Roman Catholics. Until 1741, a special payment was made to each soldier who had his child baptised Protestant. Initially referred to as Eurasian but also Indo-Briton, Asiatic-Briton, Anglo-Asiatic, East Indian and even Half Caste, this new ethnic group formed a small yet significant portion of the population and became well represented, forming their own official associations. In the early days children born Eurasian would be taken from their Indian mothers and placed in class-segregated orphanages then sent to the army or married off to a soldier. This harsh practice helps explain why the bulk were so profoundly orientated towards Britain and deracinated from Indian society and culture. To further cement the ‘British’ bond the group’s leaders vigorously campaigned to be referred to as Anglo-Indian, which was officially sanctioned in the 1911 census of India. In this sense they are one of the oldest, most politically developed and self-conscious mixed-race groups to have emerged from the colonial encounter.
Over generations, Anglo-Indians intermarried with other Anglo-Indians to form a community that developed a culture of its own. Their cuisine, dress, English language, and Christian religion all served to separate them from the Indian population, yet bind themselves together. They formed social clubs and organisations and were specifically recruited into the railways, nursing and teaching professions; they served in the armed forces in both world wars. Yet, these mixed people, despite their fierce loyalty to the British had no guarantees or safeguards to protect them from a cruel fate.
Charlton-Stevens brings to light the struggle of the community leaders and how they tried to encourage pride in an Indian Motherland as opposed to a British so-called Fatherland that many, if not all, had never visited. Faced with the question of India’s independence there was to be a very rude awakening. This was an era of extreme turmoil including rising sartorial nationalism amid attacks in the streets for wearing topis and western-style suits and ties. Even the politically engaged and well-informed found it difficult to anticipate the dramatic changes that were to come, or the decisiveness of the rupture. In the midst of far weightier concerns, Anglo-Indians were hardly thought of in the run up to the disastrously hasty British ‘transfer of power’.
Through latter stages of decolonisation, and even following independence, there was a call for a new Israel-style mixed-race nation or collective settlement overseas to be dubbed Anglo-India, Britasia or Eurasia where Anglo-Indians, Anglo-Burmans and similar Eurasian peoples from Malaya and Hong Kong could resettle in another part of the empire. The Andaman Islands in particular were envisaged as a potential site, but the British dismissed the idea stating that the islands were too rural, that the Anglo-Indians were city dwellers and not suited to an agricultural life, so this scheme was quashed. Their position at this time was extremely difficult as their leaders attempted to negotiate terms with the incoming Indian government and integrate the community within the new India and get them to seek pride in mixedness. Seats in the Indian parliament were requested (and eventually granted), citing their historical exceptionalism as the only real racial-cum-linguistic minority in India over a period of 300 years to have evolved into a distinctive minority.
Charlton-Stevens shows us through documented evidence, how the Anglo-Indians argued amongst themselves as to what was best for them. Britain was keen to wash its hands of postcolonial liabilities and discouraged Anglo-Indians from going to England to settle and tightened up their procedures for granting passports. Despite the protestations and sensible arguments given by their leader Frank Anthony, many left for England or Christian countries of the wider anglosphere; former ‘White Dominions’ where the colour prejudice was rife and where, to the ignorant settler colonials, Anglo-Indians were “nothing but black men”. Adequate provisions for the Anglo-Indians had not been made before handing over the reins of government; Britain could not and would not help them. It was seen as a grievous act of ingratitude for all the loyal services which Britain had exacted from the Anglo-Indian community during the many crises of the preceding 300 years. At the time of independence in 1947 there were roughly 300,000 Anglo-Indians compared to about 125,000–150,000 in modern day India. Many have adapted to local communities in Kolkata and Chennai or emigrated to the London, Perth, Sydney, Toronto, the United States and New Zealand where they form part of the worldwide diaspora. My Anglo-Indian father was born in Tanjore, Tamil Nadu and migrated to England in 1956. We can trace our ancestry back to Christopher Friis a Norwegian who changed his name to Browne and settled in India mid-1800s; a family photo of ours appears in this book. The first generation of the Friis-Browne family spread far-and-wide; USA, Canada, Australia with our little branch now settled in Gibraltar.
December 17, 2022
At first, the Portuguese soldiers started marrying Indian women so that they could interact with locals more freely. This was seen and copied by other European nations, mainly British people who fled to India to pursue their fortunes. Thus a brand-new community was created: Anglo Indians, one whose fatherland was Europe and whose motherland was India.
“Anglo-India and the End of Empire” by Uther Charlton-Stevens will assist you in comprehending the complexity of this exciting community that later became known as Anglo-Indians and why most of them were so strongly culturally oriented toward Britain and successfully distanced from Indian society and culture.
Numerous Anglo-Indian film actors and celebrities, like Merle Oberon and Boris Karloff (William Henry Pratt), who attempted to pass themselves off as white are examined in the book. They created stage names and fed various stories to the media from time to time to keep their background secret. These celebrities had to do these because both the Hollywood and the British Film board had peculiar laws regarding interracial romance scenes. The book Quotes “He may sit at her feet; sing her a love song; kiss her hand; clasp her in his arms, but on no account must he kiss her lips.”
Although it may have appeared that they were reducing their social stigma, the "Passing off" attempts of these famous people are not that clear-cut; the situation was more nuanced. In this book, Charlton Stevens explored the details of Anglo-Indian history while providing a broad illustration of the middle ground. It is as thorough as any book on any community.
Despite being somewhat lengthy and scholarly, the words and sentence patterns in the book have rhythm. I admire Charlton's careful effort in making such an educational history book. As a Bengali, and film student, I appreciate his meticulous attempt in producing such an informative book. There is gold information on how the film industry and Anglo-Indian celebrity minds worked throughout history.
“Anglo-India and the End of Empire” by Uther Charlton-Stevens will assist you in comprehending the complexity of this exciting community that later became known as Anglo-Indians and why most of them were so strongly culturally oriented toward Britain and successfully distanced from Indian society and culture.
Numerous Anglo-Indian film actors and celebrities, like Merle Oberon and Boris Karloff (William Henry Pratt), who attempted to pass themselves off as white are examined in the book. They created stage names and fed various stories to the media from time to time to keep their background secret. These celebrities had to do these because both the Hollywood and the British Film board had peculiar laws regarding interracial romance scenes. The book Quotes “He may sit at her feet; sing her a love song; kiss her hand; clasp her in his arms, but on no account must he kiss her lips.”
Although it may have appeared that they were reducing their social stigma, the "Passing off" attempts of these famous people are not that clear-cut; the situation was more nuanced. In this book, Charlton Stevens explored the details of Anglo-Indian history while providing a broad illustration of the middle ground. It is as thorough as any book on any community.
Despite being somewhat lengthy and scholarly, the words and sentence patterns in the book have rhythm. I admire Charlton's careful effort in making such an educational history book. As a Bengali, and film student, I appreciate his meticulous attempt in producing such an informative book. There is gold information on how the film industry and Anglo-Indian celebrity minds worked throughout history.
December 6, 2022
Very Informative!
Intensive history of the colonization of India by the British with Anglo-Indian as its main subject. This book opened my eyes to the history of an empire I was not very familiar with. It provides in-depth information on the socio-racial hierarchy, racism and the Eurasian problem. The book delves into the history of English soldiers and officers having relationships with Indian women, which produced many children. However, the children were neglected and called by the British government and were called Eurasians.
This book expounds on the debate among mixed Indians ( Eurasians) about how they should be called. This led to a consensus in 1911, which changed “Eurasians” to Anglo-India. The book also gives details into the leadership of Henry Albert John Gidney and how he influenced the Anglo Indians.
The book also covers other topics such as World War 1, Constitutional politics, Indianisation, Conservative Anglo-India, The ‘Britasian’ League, The Great Rebellions, The end of Anglo-Indians and so much more.
Overall, this is a fantastic book. It is very well researched and written. It’s truly informative and I learned a lot. The author, Uther Charlton-Stevens did a great job creating this book. It's comforting to find someone who knows what they are talking about and can offer solid and accurate information..
Highly Recommend!
Intensive history of the colonization of India by the British with Anglo-Indian as its main subject. This book opened my eyes to the history of an empire I was not very familiar with. It provides in-depth information on the socio-racial hierarchy, racism and the Eurasian problem. The book delves into the history of English soldiers and officers having relationships with Indian women, which produced many children. However, the children were neglected and called by the British government and were called Eurasians.
This book expounds on the debate among mixed Indians ( Eurasians) about how they should be called. This led to a consensus in 1911, which changed “Eurasians” to Anglo-India. The book also gives details into the leadership of Henry Albert John Gidney and how he influenced the Anglo Indians.
The book also covers other topics such as World War 1, Constitutional politics, Indianisation, Conservative Anglo-India, The ‘Britasian’ League, The Great Rebellions, The end of Anglo-Indians and so much more.
Overall, this is a fantastic book. It is very well researched and written. It’s truly informative and I learned a lot. The author, Uther Charlton-Stevens did a great job creating this book. It's comforting to find someone who knows what they are talking about and can offer solid and accurate information..
Highly Recommend!
Read
February 10, 2023Uther Charlton-Stevens’ book Anglo India and the End of Empire is both scholarly and very readable. I enjoyed all 387 pages. Charlton-Stevens brings a fresh approach to the history of the Anglo-Indian community in India, a community of which I count myself a part. This is not a Wikipedia mash-up. It has Notes, a Bibliography that includes media sources, published and unpublished primary and secondary sources, an index, and illustrations of family and historical figures. A strong introduction precedes five chapters from the beginning of the community to the end of the Raj. The core of this book is an apt historical recording that fills out dining-table debates many Anglo-Indian families had in the 1940s—to go or to stay, to accept being Indian or continue to pretend we were British, inclusive and exclusive ideas of European origins, and naming ourselves for the best economic results. The subsequent diaspora is given shape. Charlton-Stevens includes an epilogue that is both premonition and wistful. I highly recommend every Anglo-Indian takes the time to read and absorb this history and that the rest of the world be informed.
June 3, 2022
Anglo-India and the End of Empire is a magnum opus that serves as a fitting and informative tribute to the British Empire's most fervently loyal community. Adroitly chronicling the achievements and experience of the Anglo-Indian race, the author incisively demolishes the overegged narrative of colonial impression and instead reveals the truth of empire as a multi-racial, multicultural, cosmopolitan imperial federation which embodied the apotheosis of civilised internationalism.
October 28, 2024
This is an absorbing, meticulously researched history of one of the world's "lost tribes" - the Anglo-Indian (mixed race) population of colonial India. The author traces its history from origins in the interracial marriages of the early colonial period to its fate at the time of Indian independence and its need to disperse across the globe. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the history of British India, or in broader issues of empire, colonialism, race, and identity.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews