What Is in a Name?: Problematic of Anglo-Indian Literature

Abstract

Anglo-Indian Literature is not literature produced by or about Anglo-Indians but a distinct category of literature in English about India by the British. Many independent and appended Glossaries of Indian terms had also been published before George Clifford Whitworth’s “An Anglo-Indian Dictionary” (1885) as a prelude to this literature. Later, even Indians’ contributions in English were brought under this class. Scrutiny of several English and Indian historians’ take on this literature-type reveals that Anglo-Indian Literature has been changing its contours quite frequently. What is amazing is that even the names of this literature have been changing with time and the new avatars keep on taking place by embracing new genres / literatures / litterateurs. The term Anglo-Indian is used both as an adjective and a noun. It is heavily loaded as it points towards paternal lineage, colour, religion, culture, mind and the location of the author that distinguishes one from other British nationals. It was introduced as the official description of the Eurasian communities for the first time in 1882. Viceroy Charles Hardinge, in 1911, sanctioned the use of the term Anglo-Indian in the official census. An insight into the community’s history will certainly be helpful in understanding the cultural concerns of the community and issues in their literature. Confusion among the editors, literary historians and academic scholarship is no less responsible for the changing names and adopting the new ones for this hybrid literature. As their concerns are divided between allegiance to the emerging nation i.e. India and loyalty to the crown – the former masters they are not able to make up their minds about various published works. With the passage of time, Anglo-Indian Literature has disappeared like a meteor and has been transformed into Indian writings in English.