NEWS AND VIEWS
FROM OUR WORLD-WIDE COMMUNITY NETWORK
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An Anglo-Indian Conference is to be held in Melbourne, Australia on August
10th 2002. This is sponsored by the East Indian Club of Melbourne. The Melbourne
organization adopted its title from the “East Indian Club of Calcutta”
formed in 1823, one of a number of significant organizations and movements
furthering the social and political interests of early Anglo-Indians or ‘East
Indians’. The Club and others, notably the poet Derozio and activist
John Ricketts deliberately adopted the name “East Indian”. Like
its historical predecessors, the Melbourne East Indian Club seeks to promote
the interests of Anglo-Indians. Whereas other contemporary Anglo-Indian organizations
are primarily concerned with social and philanthropic activities, the East
Indian Club aims to establish cultural and academic resources including the
promotion of Anglo-Indian
literature, film, theatre and fine art.
The Conference will explore issues relating
to
*the role of Anglo-Indians in scholarly and creative work;
*ethics of Anglo Indian stereotypes;
*Anglo-Indian historiography;
*Anglo-Indian cultural production;
*Anglo-Indian cultural and political activism;
*Anglo-Indian demographics and attainment
The Conference will bring together researchers and scholars from within
and from outside the Community to debate these issues and present their research
into various aspects of Anglo-Indian life and culture. Delegates come from
a wide range of national and disciplinary backgrounds providing the conference
with a uniquely intercultural and interdisciplinary focus.
Following the Conference a Tiljallah Fund Raising Dinner will be held in
Melbourne, and Dr.Adrian Gilbert, the Conference Convenor in his e-mail invitation
to the function pointed out that support was crucial in order to help those
in need in India. He concluded with the appeal “Please do not forget
those in our Community who have been “left behind.”
This prompted an indignant letter from a Calcutta Anglo-Indian, Steven Michael
Watson - which in turn generated a furor of protest from other Anglo-Indians
all over the world. While it is impossible to print all these responses, to
read the original letter and Trevor Wright’s scathing reply click
here