We Are the Only 100 Percent Christian Community: Anglo-Indians Bangalore: SAR News
"The Anglo-Indian community has survived because we have certain strengths," said Anglo-Indian Member of Parliament, Ms. Beatrix D'Souza, addressing the World Anglo-Indian Day celebrations here, August 3. "Despite us being a scattered community, we have always maintained our identity wherever we are.We eat the Anglo-Indian way, dress the Anglo-Indian way, and without prejudice we have always absorbed certain elements of the local culture and customs of the country we live in," added Ms. Beatrix, who was the chief guest at the celebrations. Introducing the guests, Mr. Joss Fernandez, former Member of Parliament and president of the Anglo-Indian Guild, said: "We are proud indeed to be the only 100 percent Christian community in the world." Responding to comments about disunity among Anglo-Indians and their multiple associations, Ms. D'Souza said having many associations did not signify disunity. "We can instead work towards a Federation of Anglo-Indian Association to express ourselves more strongly." Tamil Nadu Member of Legislative Assembly, Ms. Sandra Grewal, said: "Let's put aside our associations. Let's stand for ourselves and for each other.We call ourselves a microscopic community and yet cannot live in unity. Later in the day, an ecumenical service was conducted by Methodist Bishop Sampath Kumar, and Jesuit priest, Fr. Pradeep Sequeira. A symposium on the theme 'Unity and diversity' was also held. Meanwhile, a few Anglo-Indians expressed resentment over the "step-motherly attitude the Anglo-Indian Guild and Association has towards poor members of the community." Mr. Winston from Bangalore told SAR News: "This is all an eyewash. The newspapers painted a wrong picture of the whole celebration. Why were the poor Anglo-Indians not invited? The charge for participation was Rs.300 and Rs.500. How do we poor Anglo-Indians pay?" Last year, a world reunion of Anglo-Indians was organised at the five-star Hotel Ashoka in Bangalore. A large group of Anglo-Indians made vociferous protests and shouted slogans near the hotel because they were not allowed to enter the venue without paying. The 500-year-old Anglo-Indian community, scattered all over world, meets every year at different places to celebrate the World Anglo-Indian Day. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-W-E-B---S-I-T-E-=-=-= To Subscribe/Unsubscribe from GoaNet | http://www.goacom.com/goanet =================================================================== For (un)subscribing or for help, Contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dont want so many e=mails? Join GoaNet-Digest instead ! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Help support non-commercial projects in Goa by advertizing!! * * * * Your ad here !!
