The Anglo-Indian Archives: Methodologies for Creating Future History

The Anglo-Indian Archives was founded by photographers Dileep Prakash, Adira Thekkuveettil and Sheik Mohamed Ishaq in 2018. Created in close collaboration with the community, this digital repository highlights those personal and social narratives that are sometimes overlooked in traditional archiving practices. In constructing this platform, the three founders have consciously attempted to address the subjective mapping of narratives by allowing the Indian and diasporic Anglo-Indian community to play an equal part in its creation.

In conversation with Veeranganakumari Solanki, Adira Thekkuveettil looks at the making of the archive from the perspective of an outsider to the community. Thekkuveettil discusses in detail the different aspects that were taken into consideration while creating the archive; the people and organisations that guided its establishment; and the strong presence of a sense of community in documenting stories for the future. While discussing the methodologies adopted by the team, Thekkuveettil contextualises the reasons for avoiding a social media presence for the archive and the perspectives that they have taken into consideration while sharing images on their website. She concludes by highlighting the support received from the community for the project, as well as the risks allied with implications of the term “Anglo-Indian.” Thekkuveettil emphasises that identities are fluid and extend beyond singular descriptions. Thus, as the archive continues to expand, it aims to embed personal stories within their larger global cultural contexts.

^{(Featured Image: Enid Ross and Rocky Pereira in Chatribari. [Guwahati, 1995. Image courtesy of Linette Pereira and The Anglo-Indian Archives.])}

To read more about the representation of the Anglo-Indian community, please click here and here.