The name is absent

nominated six members from the Assembly to the Indian
Central Committee to assist the Simon Commission. The
Simon Report admitted that the Anglo-Indians were loyal to
the British, but did nothing for the community. (60)

The policy of Indianization had radically altered the
"reserved" job status for Anglo-Indians, and a Memorandum
was sent by the Anglo-Indians to the Indian Statutory
Commission, which urged for "adequate safeguards be
provided by statutory enactment for a stated period" in the
"reserved" job quotas for Anglo-Indians. The Anglo-Indians
were fluent English speakers and jobs in the Provincial
Civil Service, Provincial Judicial Service, Government of
India and Provincial Government Secretariats, Salt, Forest,
Survey and Police demanded a knowledge of English. (61)

Gidney played the English Language "card" with shrewd
caution, and linked it with employment in India for the
Anglo-Indians. He understood the deep historical and
contemporary inequalities which existed in Anglo-Indian
education. What Gidney lacked was the power to influence
the British to alter their policies in favour of the
Anglo-Indians. His influence had some recognized official
backing but he had no authority to change the political
course for Anglo-Indians.

Although Gidney was an orator who had access to
information, he lacked the negative power of Gandhi.
Gidney could not stop things from happening. He was unable
to delay, distort or even disrupt events. His leadership
of the community in the pre-Independence era will not be
forgotten. He paved the way for the next leader in the
Anglo-Indian community, Frank Anthony.

The next section offers a description of Frank Anthony. He
became President of the powerful All-Indian Anglo-Indian
Association after Gidney's death.

137

<<   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   >>

More intriguing information