Charles Dias emphasised that the Anglo-Indian community’s contributions to modern India far outweigh their population size. He highlighted their unparalleled role in nation-building across sectors like education, sports, railways, post and telegraph, health, and especially the armed forces, where eight Anglo-Indians have risen to the rank of Air Vice-Marshal and over 25 have received top gallantry awards such as the Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra.

“The three service chiefs—Admiral R L Pereira, Air Chief Marshal Denis Anthony La Fontaine, and Air Chief Marshal Norman Anil Kumar Browne—exemplify the Anglo-Indian community’s unwavering commitment to the nation,” he said.

Despite these achievements, the community faces significant hurdles. In 2013, the ministry of minority affairs formed a fact-finding team to study the “problems and aspirations of the Anglo-Indian community” in cities including Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kochi.

The team’s report noted that “amongst the various challenges and problems being faced by members of the Anglo-Indian community in India, the more significant ones are related to (1) identity crisis, (ii) lack of employment, (iii) educational backwardness, (iv) lack of proper facilities, and (v) cultural erosion.”