THE WEST INDIANS OF INDIA [To the Editor of THE
SPECTATOR.] SIR,—There are, as Mr. Philip Cox states in his interesting article, many " West Indians " in India. There can be no doubt, too, of their social value, though Mr. Cox is more enthusiastic than critical when he compares their artistic achievements with those of " other modern communities of Negro descent," or when he speaks of their " freedom from hampering religious restrictions " in spite of the fact that
they " cling tightly to the religion of their progenitors."
But these people cannot be compared with the Parsis, whose economic utility to their adopted country is, one should add, a somewhat debatable viewpoint. They have no separate communal existence, not even .- one of: India's " smallest minorities," and have' been so -Much assimilated with other Negroid immigrants by the " Anglo-Indians " that the majority are now unconscious of their Negro origins. In fact, they would be affronted if they were regarded as West Indians. Recent attempts to isolate them should therefore have suggested to Mr.' COI( the need for an un- qualified protest, instead of propaganda for the creation of a new communal consciousness in India. MO;eovei, Mr. Ctix has failed, as Eurasian leaders also do,
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to aPpreciate the irony of asking Indian nationalists to regard a pro-Imperialist minority. with " especial interest and solicitude." He can ask that, if he must ask for special consideraikiii; from the British Government, but from the " leaders of Indian Nationhood " he can only claim the rights of citizenship for his people. And if they (and other Eurasians) justify the claim, need they fear insecurity and discrimination in the only country which they can now regard as theirs ?—I am, &c., CEDRIC DOVER.
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