A small community once again celebrated World Anglo Indian Day on Tuesday with prayer, music, dance and good food.
They could not get together in the past two years because of the pandemic.
From dapper septuagenarians to sprightly teenagers, the community celebrated the contribution of Anglo-Indians in all fields over the years and especially in education.
What most of them missed in the last two years of the pandemic were the camaraderie and fellowship. This year they ignored the fact that the day came in the middle of a working week.
“This day helps us to go back to our roots. Despite the reduced numbers, we are here to encourage one another that we are still there...” said Gillian Rosemary Hart, one of the seniormost members of the community, a former school principal and a three-time nominated MLA representing the community.
Like her, many had congregated at Calcutta Boys’ School on Tuesday evening. The programme was organised by the Association of Heads of Anglo-Indian Schools in India, Bengal chapter.
Many senior members said they were seeing so many young people together at their gathering after a long time.
The floor was open to dance and music, something that many in the community enjoy.
The celebrations were not confined to the premises of Calcutta Boys’ School but continued across homes in other parts of the city.
Clifford Phillips, who lives in Dum Dum, spent his morning in preparing yellow rice and ball (chicken) curry for his family and friends. Joseph Bera of Picnic Garden baked fruit cakes not just for his family but to give some to the not-so-privileged.
“I love to cook and while I don’t get an opportunity on other days this is a day I make it a point to listen to old country songs, cook and invite friends,” said Phillips.
Not all were fortunate enough to get an early break from work.
Working mother Kim Gomes spent the day at her office and waited to be back home off Eastern Bypass for “a family dinner”. “The schools are off but not the offices.”
Richard Green takes pride in the name of his community not just on this day but every day, he said. “We are a community which has Indian attached to our names. That is something that makes us feel proud,” the teacher said.
Green said that after a long time this year was an evening of “dance and music and fun,” and though Covid is not over they “took the risk to be together.”
The president of the Bengal chapter, Jessica Gomes Surana, upheld the students as “torch bearers” of their institutions.
“It is you who will take education beyond the confines of the school boundaries,” she said.