JAIPUR: With just a handful of members remaining in Rajasthan, the Anglo-Indian community in different parts of the state try to remain in touch during the Christmas. Although in pandemic, it has become even more difficult.
A person belongs to an Anglo-Indian community if he/she is from a lineage of a mixed marriage between a foreigner and Indian. Once a flourishing community after 1947, most of them migrated to different parts of the world, but a few of them decided to stay back to their roots.
In Jaipur, only 10 families of Anglo-Indians are remaining. Leslie Ropson, secretary of the community, said, “Until last year, we used to have a week-long celebration of Anglo-Indians starting from Christmas eve. There used to be Christmas mass, dance, music and a New Year’s ball. Anglo-Indians from different parts of Rajasthan used to participate in it. Due to a pandemic, it is not possible this year. Although we will be in touch through social media.”
In Jaipur, Anglo-Indians have a lot of contribution in the education sector. St. Joseph, St Peter’s, St Michael’s are some prominent schools of Jaipur still run by the community members.
However, now the younger generation is leaving the town for a better prospect. Tanya Rose Castella, a member of the community in Jaipur, said that with the expansion of the city it has become difficult for them to meet frequently.
“Most of our younger generation is going out for better prospects and life. We are an aging community although we do organise different events during holidays especially Christmas but its charm has definitely dwindled,” said Castella.
Most of the Anglo Indians in Rajasthan belong to Catholic sect of Christianity but there are many Protestant as well. Before Independence, many churches had British in title like St Mary’s Church in Ajmer used to be called as St. Mary’s Church of England, but now these all are run by Church of North India.
Anglo-Indian also have a unique cuisine mixture of eastern and Western culture. Sally Everett Joseph, one of the 20 families of Anglo-Indian in Ajmer said that the famous dish is Ball curry and yellow rice. She even cooks tamarind fish, pork-vindaloo, Jalfrezi and chicken on Christmas.
Members of this community are still living in Ajmer, Jaipur, Mt. Abu, Jodhpur and a few in Udaipur but there will be a day when their culture will become a thing of the past in Rajasthan.