Abstract
The late nineteenth-century Anglo-Indian settlement in Whitefield is about sixteen kilometres east of Bangalore, India. It was originally an independent village, but has since been co-opted as a city suburb. This paper presents an overview of the research project carried out in Whitefield over a six month period from May to November 2009, involving documentation and analysis of the settlement, plots, and bungalows. At Whitefield we found a unique experiment, possibly of national significance: ‘a self sufficient Anglo-Indian Utopia where no man would own property and all would work towards the common good’, perhaps based on both European ideals and the Indian village model. Today this place is under threat of indiscriminate development. The CDP (Comprehensive Development Plan) for Bangalore makes no mention of its historical nature. It is truly a forgotten chapter of India's colonial heritage. Moreover, as there is no heritage legislation in Bangalore, there is no legal protection for any historical area or structure in the city, and thus the onus is on local people to protect the town's remaining heritage. Furthermore, in the course of interactions with the local community in this settlement over the research period it seemed that the residents were truly aware of their past and the need to carry it forward for the benefit of future generations.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
