The name is absent

A large section of "white" Anglo-Indians classified
themselves in Britain as Domiciled Europeans. The "darker
brother or sister" was an Anglo-Indian, but the "fairer
brother or sister" became a Domiciled European and was
therefore excluded. Further, the names and addresses
supplied by "informants" tended to be of the same socio-
economic class and thus provided a bias to the sample.
Thus, from the researcher's experience snowball sampling
was unreliable in the Anglo-Indian community and most
unfortunately opened up sensitive areas in families. (34)

In seeking a better sampling technique, the researcher
alighted on the fact that as all Anglo-Indians are
nominally, at least, Christians by religion, the community
should be well known to the Christian church hierarchy.
The reason for selecting the Roman Catholic Archbishops and
the Bishops of the Church of North India and Church of
South India was linked to the intensely hierarchical
structure of Indian society.

An entree to the circle of influential Anglo-Indians, at
the socio-economic apex of the community, would aid the
researcher in obtaining an introduction to, and information
about, Anglo-Indians lower down in the socio-economic
scale. Thus, this would ensure a vertical slice in the
sample. Further, the researcher's introduction to an
Anglo-Indian by a Roman Catholic Archbishop or an Anglican
Bishop, would most likely flatter and please the Anglo-
Indian. This would elicit a positive and helpful response.

The names and addresses of the Roman Catholic and Anglican
Bishops in India were given to the researcher by Cardinal
Hume's and the Archbishop of Westminster's offices
respectively. (35)

In October 1988, the researcher wrote letters to the
Archbishops and Bishops in twelve cities including state

177

<<   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   >>

More intriguing information