Future Of The East Indian Community Of Maharastra

By H. J. M. D'PENHA, B. A.  
 
The new Reforms have undoubtedly ushered in an era in India's history. Not only in India but in every quarter of the globe, The Old Order is decaying and giving place to vast and revolutionary changes. Democracy and Parliamentary Government have outlived their day giving birth to proletarian and militant dictatorship. But amidst all this travail and charivari and storm of clashing ideals, it is a matter of great pride and glory to note that the Rock of St. Peter stands yet firm and unshaken as "Teneriffe or Atlas unremoved."  

This then is a broad and general survey of the condition of the world at the present day which is going to affect the lives of one and all of us. What, then, is going to be the attitude of the East Indian? Is he going to keep himself isolated and rest content with being a disinterested spectator, of this great world drama or is he going to actively play his role on the stage? East Indians, how long are we going to indulge in personal animosities and petty squabbles culminating in expensive litigation and thereby entailing loss of wealth, energy and time? When are we going to push upwards the narrow horizon of our ambition and take a live interest in the civic, political and economic welfare of the country?

We must remember that we are Indians, yet we have adopted foreign dress, foreign speech and foreign modes of living. Why the educated and elite of the East Indian community have given up Marathi, their mother tongue, is a question that requires solution! Is it not a disgrace to know two or three European languages and not to know the vernacular? In the choice of' our costumes too many of us have given up the sari which has always been looked upon with admiration by foreigners as an invention of India's artistic genius. Very few of us take an active part in the vast constitutional changes that our country is undergoing. The fact, that only 35 per cent. of the Christian electorate exercised their franchise in the last elections, reflects that the Community is not politically educated. This indifferent attitude towards politics is specially conspicuous amongst the middle classes. They are quite satisfied with their meagre earnings and are lacking in the ambition to pull their full political weight. 

The East Indians were converted to Christianity four centuries ago by  ‘Portuguese Missionaries’ who according to the custom of the time gave them Portuguese names, and they are Roman Catholic in religion. According to the Government Gazetteer of the Thana District they are descendants of the converts first made by the Franciscans, and notably Antonio do Porto (1535-1548), who, principally in Bandra converted 5000 persons and afterwards by the Jesuits under St.Francis Xavier (1506 - 1552) and his successors.

The East Indians are the earliest subjects of the British Crown in this country in as much as Bombay by its cession in 1661 was the first foothold the British acquired in India.

The East Indians are truly children of the soils and as such have a predominant stake in the land.  

The language of the bulk of the people is the local Marathi dialect. Among the educated classes English is the home speech. These too, though Indians in essentials have taken to Europeanized manners and the men like other Indians with English education dress in the European fashion. Some East Indian women, who adopted European costumes are reverting to the more graceful sari.

We are all Christians and we have a noble destiny before us and consequently a noble work before us. But we are also men and as such we have each of us a work to do in God’s great world and there is a special work for each East Indian and that work is to help in a united body the community and to make it more important and more respected in the eyes of the public.

The true end of social life says a famous author is the promotion of good-will among the members – a due balance and just equilibrium. All therefore that need aid, have a right to ask it from their fellow mortals. No one who holds the power of granting can refuse it without guilt. 

The East Indian Association as well as the Community would perish if the members ceased to help each other. Be united in order to work for the common good. Difficulties there will be but they will be overcome by perseverance, courage and concerted and united action.