Dr Gloria Jean Moore

Story

A BRIDGE AND A BULWARK. AUSTRALIAN ANGLO INDIANS. By Dr Gloria J. Moore

Drawn from two worlds, understanding both worlds, bridging those worlds in pride and reconciliation – these were some of the strengths which took Barack Obama in a landslide victory to the White House in America, in November 2008. His inspiring powers of oratory, owing so much of its depth to his spiritual heritage, and sufferings long endured – his humanity as a man of colour winning the highest office in that country, all drew together the people of so many nations across the world. They saw in him hope, and the promise of dreams realised which they had never thought to see, in their lifetime. General Colin Powell described Obama as electrifying, a transforming figure. Agreement now came from ecstatic faces in the jubilant crowds across America, and across the world; old scars, old wounds, gave way to joy and celebration. Their day had come.

Every such victory is a milestone on the journey to a more refined and precise understanding of the rights all human beings have, and should be able to claim in the 21st century. In a recent epic American television series, The War (the Second World War), Americans of Latino descent protested that they had been overlooked, their contribution negated. To the credit of the filmmakers, this was remedied to some extent.

My role has been to set the record straight for another forgotten world minority, my own, the Anglo Indians. It was in Australia, as an Australian that I was given the opportunity to record for future generations, that four hundred year, little known history. In her foreword to my book, THE ANGLO INDIAN VISION (1986), the Countess Mountbatten of Burma writes .. ‘a remarkable picture is built up of the Anglo Indians\’ lives through the centuries, their character and culture, way of life and considerable achievements. We can appreciate through her intimate knowledge, what these people have contributed to the communities and country in which they lived and their often heroic endurance and patience in the face of shameful prejudice’.

Perhaps the worst and least excusable prejudice is the writing out of history of the Anglo Indians, which still continues from ivy league universities to this day. Scholars who have read my books, and admit they have, do not list them in bibliographies. I was first to declare that our people are drawn from many worlds, bridging East and West. This appeared in a widely read book on early Anglo Indians. My THE ANGLO INDIAN VISION appeared to be the starting point for this book: many of my readers alerted me to the strong similarity. We may ask, why is so terribly hard for educated people to be honest, give credit where it is due, and accept enlightenment, even if it means changing long held patterns of power?

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