Historical Development of the Anglo-Indian Community

Abstract

The Anglo-Indian community is a legacy of colonialism. Portuguese, Dutch, French, and—most significantly—British people arrived in India through the development of Western trade and rule in the seventeenth century. Almost solely male endeavours were involved in colonialism. When it came to the Europeans in India, thousands of unmarried men were stationed there for years, and many of them formed relationships with native women. European men formed partnerships with native women in the early days, when the sea voyage was long and risky, and European men were forced to settle down for many years. That practice was later labelled as a necessity. During their time in India, Europeans fulfilled various roles, including priests, traders, conquerors, monarchs, and administrators. In addition, they were accountable for the emergence of a multiracial population that came to be known as the Anglo-Indian community. In the course of their history, the people who are now known as Anglo-Indians have been known by a variety of names, including “Eurasians”, “East Indians,” “Half-castes,” “Mixed Blood,” “Country-Borns,” and “Indo-Britons.”