All India Anglo-Indian Association

File:Frank Anthony 2003 stamp of India.jpg served as the president of the All India Anglo-Indian Association, securing the presence of Article 331 in the Constitution of India.]]

The All India Anglo-Indian Association (AIAIA) is an organisation representing the interests of Anglo-Indians. It was founded in 1926 in colonial India by Sir Henry Gidney.{{cite book |last1=Abel |first1=Evelyn |title=The Anglo-Indian Community: Survival in India |date=1988 |publisher=Chanakya Publications |isbn=978-81-7001-036-4 |language=en}}{{cite book |last1=Deefholts |first1=Margaret |last2=Deefholts |first2=Glenn |title=The Way We Were: Anglo-Indian Chronicles |date=2006 |publisher=Calcutta Tiljallah Relief Inc |isbn=978-0-9754639-3-2 |page=89 |language=English}} It has sixty-two branches throughout India.{{cite book |last1=Jolly |first1=Emma |title=Tracing Your British Indian Ancestors |date=2012 |publisher=Casemate Publishers |isbn=978-1-78159-755-2 |language=English}}

The All India Anglo-Indian Association holds that Anglo-Indians are unique in that they are Christians, speak English as their mother tongue, as well as have a historical link to both Europe and India.{{cite book |last1=Andrews |first1=Robyn |title=Christmas in Calcutta: Anglo-Indian Stories and Essays |date=2013 |publisher=SAGE Publishing India |isbn=978-81-321-1814-5 |language=English}} During the era of the British Raj in India, the then president of the All-India Anglo-Indian Association represented the Anglo-Indian community of undivided India at the Round Table Conferences.{{cite book |last1=Mizutani |first1=Satoshi |title=The Meaning of White: Race, Class, and the 'Domiciled Community' in British India 1858-1930 |date=2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-969770-0 |page=216 |language=English}} At the time of the Indian independence movement, the All-India Anglo-Indian Association opposed the partition of India; its then president Frank Anthony "fought for the best interests of his community as Indians, not Britishers," criticizing the British for "racial discrimination in matters of pay and allowances, and for failing to acknowledge the sterling military and civil contributions made by Anglo-Indians to the Raj".{{cite book |author=Frank Anthony |title=Britain's Betrayal in India: The Story of the Anglo-Indian Community |date=1969 |publisher=Allied Publishers |page=157 |language=English}}{{cite book |last1=Mansingh |first1=Surjit |title=Historical Dictionary of India |date=2006 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-6502-0 |page=61 |language=English |quote=Anthony was vocally critical of the British Raj in India for its racial discrimination in matters of pay and allowances, and for failing to acknowledge the sterling military and civil contributions made by Anglo-Indians to the Raj. Anthony vociferously opposed Partition and fought for the best interests of his community as Indians, not Britishers.}} Anthony criticized the pro-separatist All India Muslim League led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah, holding them to be responsible for the murderers that occurred during Direct Action Day and for spreading communal hatred.{{cite book|last1=Charlton-Stevens |first1=Uther |title=Anglo-India and the End of Empire|date=1 December 2022 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-767651-6 |language=en}} The All India Anglo-Indian Association saved the lives of both Hindus and Muslims during the rioting. In September 1942, at the organisation's annual general meeting, the All India Anglo-Indian Association affirmed its love for and loyalty to India.{{cite book |last1=D'Cruz |first1=Glenn |title=Midnight's Orphans: Anglo-Indians in Post/colonial Literature |date=2006 |publisher=Peter Lang |isbn=978-3-03910-848-0 |page=189 |language=English}} The organisation's efforts under the presidency of Anthony led to Article 331 being included in the Constitution of India: "Notwithstanding anything in Article 170, the Governor of a State may, if he is of opinion that the Anglo-Indian community needs representation in the Legislative Assembly of the State and is not adequately represented therein, [nominate one member of that community to the Assembly]."{{cite web |last1=Ghosh |first1=Abantika |last2=Kaushal |first2=Pradeep |title=Explained: Anglo-Indian quota, its history, MPs |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/anglo-indian-quota-history-mps-6164232/ |publisher=The Indian Express |accessdate=8 June 2020 |language=English |date=2 January 2020}}

The various branches of the All India Anglo-Indian Association arrange events throughout the year.{{cite web |title=Observing Christmas the Anglo-Indian way in Bengaluru |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2019/dec/23/observing-christmas-the-anglo-indian-way-in-bengaluru-2079697.html |publisher=The New Indian Express |accessdate=9 June 2020 |language=English |date=23 December 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Prasad |first1=Preeja |title=Anglo-Indian community to host its biggest event |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2019/aug/10/anglo-indian-community-to-host-its-biggest-event-2016749.html |publisher=The New Indian Express |accessdate=9 June 2020 |language=English |date=10 August 2019}} This includes celebrations of Christian holidays such as Christmas, as well as sporting events with an annual hockey tournament being at the epicentre.{{cite book |last1=Mills |first1=James H. |title=Subaltern Sports: Politics and Sport in South Asia |date=2005 |publisher=Anthem Press |isbn=978-0-85728-727-4 |page=216 |language=English}}