glo-Indian community in Chandrapore. [NU: 2019, 21]
E. M. Forster’s (1879-1970) “A Passage to India” (1924) shows life under the Raj. The Anglo-Indian community in Chandrapore plays a central role. They are the rulers of India. They claim superiority over the natives. Through Ronny Heaslop, Mr. Turton, Mrs. Turton, Major Callendar, and Mrs. Callendar, Forster presents arrogance, prejudice, and fear. Their actions create division and show the flaws of the empire.
Social Superiority and Division: The Anglo-Indians live in the civil station. Forster writes about the civil station that,
“Shares nothing with the city except the overarching sky.”
Ronny (City Magistrate), Turton (Collector), Mrs. Turton, Callendar, and Mrs. Callendar live on the hill. Indians like Aziz, Hamidullah, and Mahmoud Ali live in the bazaar. The club of Chandrapore is the center of Anglo-Indian pride. Indians are excluded. Adela mixes politely with Indian ladies at the Bridge Party. Mrs. Turton tells Adela,
“You’re superior to them, anyway. Don’t forget that.”
This shows their belief in racial superiority. The Anglo-Indian community separates itself from the city and from its people.
Arrogance and Rudeness: Forster shows arrogance in daily life. Major Callendar orders Aziz rudely to come. When Aziz arrives, Callendar is not there. Mrs. Callendar and Mrs. Lesley take Aziz’s tonga (two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage) without permission. They insult him openly. At the club, the English gossip about Indians. Mrs. Turton and Mrs. Callendar insult purdah women at the Bridge Party. They show no respect for Indian customs. This arrogance creates hostility. The Anglo-Indian community sees Indians as inferior, not as equals.
The Bridge Party – False Goodwill: Mr. Turton, the Collector, arranges a Bridge Party. He says it will connect East and West. Nawab Bahadur, Aziz, Hamidullah, and Mahmoud Ali attend. Mrs. Turton and Mrs. Callendar are asked to welcome Indian ladies. But the party fails. Indians stand on one side. The English stand on the other. Ronny Heaslop mocks Adela’s wish to see India. He says,
“The educated Indians will be no good to us if there’s a row… they don’t matter.”
The Bridge Party becomes a symbol of false goodwill. The Anglo-Indian community shows only pride and distance.
The Trial of Aziz – Collective Prejudice: The trial shows the true face of the Anglo-Indian community. Adela Quested imagines that Aziz attacked her in the Marabar Caves. The English unite against him. Ronny, Turton, Mrs. Turton, Major Callendar, and Mrs. Callendar treat Aziz as guilty from the start. Forster writes that they were,
“Sinking themselves in their community.”
They forget personal judgment. They defend race against race. Only Fielding supports Aziz. Mrs. Moore also knows the truth, but is too weak to do something. The trial shows prejudice, not justice.
Fear and Insecurity of the Raj: Forster also shows the fear inside the Anglo-Indian community. They feel surrounded by Indians. They trust only their own group. They see every Indian as a threat. Ronny believes strict rule is the only way. Turton and Callendar think kindness is weakness. Mrs. Turton tells Adela to keep her superiority. This insecurity explains their arrogance. Their fear of losing power makes them cruel. Forster shows the Anglo-Indians as rulers who are not confident but frightened.
Forster’s picture of the Anglo-Indian community in Chandrapore is critical. They live apart in the civil station. They show arrogance and prejudice. Their Bridge Party fails. Their trial of Aziz exposes collective injustice. Their pride hides their fear. Ronny, Turton, Mrs. Turton, Callendar, and Mrs. Callendar represent this community. Forster’s message is clear: the Anglo-Indians create division, not unity, in India.
Continue Reading
Subscribe to access the full content
Upgrade to Premium