This post is part of the Anglo-Indian Project Christmas series 2016.
Christmas in Calcutta by Robyn Andrews explores the Anglo-Indian community in Calcutta, bringing together life stories, memoir pieces and essays of the community and their contemporary struggles for identity; abandoned by the British, neglected by the Indians.
The book is organised into four sections: ‘Identity’ focuses on the origins, characteristics and the constitutional definition of the community; ‘Faith’, or specifically the practice of Christianity, is the subject of study in the second section; ‘Education’ points out some of the failings of the education system for the community; and the final section, ‘Community Care’, talks about Anglo-Indian care and the consolidation of their community through this care.
Andrews brings to life the vibrancy of the Anglo-Indian community in Calcutta, revealing the daily struggles to survive. The community is in serious decline, yet the resilience, gifting and gregarious nature of the Anglo-Indians shines through. A must-read for anyone interested in this forgotten community.
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