Hari Baskaran

These Bloomin' Anglos Hari Baskaran

For those who like to cock a snook at Anglo Indians, consider this: Their military prowess resulted in the formation of legendary military units in the pre-independence era that are active in the Indian army even today. Examples include Skinner's Horse, founded by Lt. Col. James Skinner, and the Shekhawati Brigade, formed by Col. Henry Forster. Air Chief Marshal Denis La Fontaine, Admiral Ronald Pereira, Lt. General Reginald Noronha, the Keelor brothers, Eric Stracey, Ruskin Bond, Melville de Mello, Olympian Leslie Claudius, Wilson Jones, Frank Anthony and Derek O'Brien are some among many Anglo-Indians who are household names in India. Why then has the community been subjected to so much prejudice? These Bloomin' Anglos is a succinct, balanced view of the community and a must-read for Anglo-Indians, including those settled abroad. "This book would be most welcome and gratefully received by the surviving members of our community and would do us great honour. I have had great difficulty explaining to my wife, who is Welsh, and children who I actually am! We have had very little knowledge of our roots and reading your book was quite insightful." - Dr. Julian Adie "Well-written and quite gripping in its own way, I think the essence of the book is its narration and literary style. The life and times of the Anglo-Indian community are well depicted and brings out the goodness in them - a sort of innocence." - Arun Balakrishnan