Rudy Otter, a retired Anglo-Indian freelance reporter and columnist for ABPL Group, is wearing a bigger smile than usual. His book, “The Very Best of Rudy Otter”, has been selling in countries like India, Malaysia, Singapore, the UK, Canada, United States, Australia and New Zealand.
The paperback, published in 2013 by Anglo-Ink of Chennai, India, consists of light-hearted articles and short stories on his beloved Anglo-Indian community. Publisher/Editor Harry MacLure said: “You cannot help but giggle and want to turn the pages.” On Anglo-Ink’s website, readers have also commented on the book. One in the UK, formerly from Jhansi, India wrote: “Very enjoyable and certain to delight readers.” Another, from Canada: “Highly engaging and entertaining.” A newspaper review said the book exuded “wit and warmth”.
The Anglo-Indian race was started during the British Raj by white-settlers in India who originally called themselves Anglo-Indians. Lacking the company of European women in those far-off days, they married Indian women and their offspring, originally known as Eurasians, also came to be known as Anglo-Indians in 1911.
Since India’s Independence in 1947, the majority of the 500,000-strong Anglo-Indian community left India to make their homes in the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, although around 150,000 still live and work in India. Their mother tongue is English, they have British names, and they are Christians. They come in three colours – white, light-brown and dark brown.
In pre-Independent India they were employed mainly on the railways as engine drivers, guards, ticket-collectors, station masters, and yard foremen, with some in the police, government telegraphs or customs & excise.. Their wives were teachers, nurses and secretaries.
In their adopted countries, they became managing directors, doctors, scientists, engineers, journalists and some even started their own businesses. “We work hard but also like to relax,” said Rudy, now a sprightly 85. “Dancing is a favourite pastime and we are also crazy about spicy Indian food!” he quipped.
