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You are here: Experts > Cultures > Indian Culture > Asian/Middle Eastern History > Indian ethnicity
Expert: Anthony - 10/11/2009
Question
I would like to know if Indians (India) are considered Caucasians?
Answer
Hi Rainer,
Please accept my apologies for the delay in reverting to you. I do not have continuous net access, and have to rely on visiting a cyber cafe during the week.
The answer to your question is as follows:
The Caucasian race, sometimes called the Caucasoid race is defined by the Compact Oxford English Dictionary of Current English as “relating to a broad division of humankind covering peoples from Europe, Western Asia, parts of the Indian Subcontinent and parts of North Africa” or “white-skinned; of European origin” or “relating to the region of the Caucasus in SE Europe”. The concept originated in attempts chiefly by 19th c. European thinkers to develop a method of racial classification. This typological method was discredited and the concept is not relied on in scientific work related to humans.
However, it survives along with the similar classification “white” on many sociological studies, most of which require respondents to choose their “race” from a list of terms. Some also allow “other” or “mixed”. The idea is to use the self-selected classification for correllational studies, sometimes in conjunction with other sciences, especially medicine and public health.
People in Europe, especially in Russia and nearby, generally use the term “Caucasian” exclusively to identify people who are from the Caucasus region or who speak the Caucasian languages.
In fact, there is a small Anglo-Indian community in India and many of then have blonde hair and Caucasian looks. Most of them reside in Goa, and in places like Simla in North India. This community came into being due to the Portuguese rule in Goa and also the rule of the British empire in India before Indian independence. There were many British Indians due to inter marriages etc.
Actually the Indian parliament upper house has a special seat reserved for a single member from this community and the President of India nominates this member from the Anglo-Indian community.
One book that dwells on this is "The Wonder that was India: A Survey of the Culture of the Indian Sub-Continent Before the Coming of the Muslims" by A. L. Basham.
Hope this answers your question.
Regards,
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