next section. It was important to ask the question in 1990
even if it did open a Pandora's box of racism.
2.1. Explanations: Biological and cultural "marks" and
the Indian census
The explanations were divided into biological and cultural
"marks". The biological "marks" referred to the colour and
racial characteristics; the cultural "marks" referred to
dress, and cuisine. (7) Some respondents offered the
comment that different Jknglo-Indian associations took
anyone as a member without verifying biological and
cultural "marks" - their ethnic credentials.
The biological "marks" were awarded by Anglo-Indians and
Indians to describe the Anglo-Indian's ethnicity. It
provided a convenient and commonly used means for
establishing differences between the diverse groups of
Anglo-Indians. An important "mark" was given first to skin
colour and this was followed by the surname. The skin
colour and surname provided Anglo-Indians with a code of
ethics which was intracultural and was dependant upon
group∕association membership.
These biological "marks" provided discriminatory tiers
which were related to ancestry, and provided the important
variations in behaviour or values in the community. The
cultural "marks" usually depended on the culture of the
home, dress, languages spoken, food and even musical
appreciation. The discriminatory tier was ancestry which
became diluted in the dominant Indian culture. These three
tiers represented very important variations in behaviour or
values in the community and persisted throughout the survey
as a basis for intracultural discrimination.
207