Political Marginalization Of Anglo-Indians In Odisha: The Case For Legislative Representation And Its Socio-Political Consequences

Abstract

The Anglo-Indian community, a distinct cultural and linguistic minority in India, held a unique position in the country’s legislative framework through reserved representation in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies. This provision, introduced by the Constitution of India, aimed to ensure political participation for the community, which was numerically small but historically significant. However, the 126th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2019, discontinued this representation, citing the community’s declining population, as reflected in the 2011 Census. This decision was met with criticism, as various estimates suggested a significantly higher Anglo-Indian population than official records indicated. Additionally, concerns were raised regarding the lack of justification for excluding Anglo-Indians from the extension of reservations granted to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. This paper analyses the removal of the representation and the probable causes for the lack of political representation of the community in Odisha and its impact on the community.