How times have changed, and for the better. My mother's best friend in 1950's was Maria D'Souza. She was an 'Anglo-Indian' with a fair complexion. She dressed in traditional clothes, sarees were the only clothes I saw her in, never a skirt. She was a very modest lady, who would have died before showing her legs in public. She had very long hair, again this was in the traditional style, with appropriate styles for the occasions she was at. I think its wonderful that in Goa there was not the hatred & loathing of the 'Anglo-Indian' as it was in other parts of India. Chi-Chi (pronounced CHEE CHEE) was a common derogatory word used to describe anyone who was not of 'pure' Indian blood. The worst time for Anglo-Indians in other parts of India was just before Indian Independence when there were issues about any connection with Britain (pre-1947) & afterwards when the 'mixed' race chi-chi were frowned upon by all Indians, advantages were taken of them & there was violence against them from the extremists, even their neighbours spat & hit them, as if it was their fault that the British invaded their country. At least in Goa (unless there are stories otherwise), I have not heard of anyone who had any problems with the Goan people, after all they were Goan themselves. I miss those days, Maria D'Souza is most probably passed away by now, or she would be around 80 to 85 years old. John Monteiro ----------------------------------------------------------------
Ana Maria de souza-Goswami <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote Why does everyone think that anglo indians have to be fair. Selma remarked that a dusky friend of hers called herself Anglo-Indian. I lived four years in Bangalore and knew a lot of Anglos. 90% of them were dark, very few were fair. The Anglos asked me whether I was one, because of my very fair complexion, and when I said 'Goan', then of course, 'But you must have some Portuguese blood'. Ana Maria de Souza-Goswami ----------------------------------------------------------------- Regards John Monteiro
