Anglo-Indian groups known to organise the May Queen Ball — where traditional dance forms and a beauty pageant come together is a captivating mix on the first of May — have given the event a go-by.
But, it's not sudden loss of interest; the Ball has slowly been losing importance in the eyes of the Anglo-Indians. In 2002 — when the Ball was conducted at Shiraz Hall of Hotel Imperial by the All-India Anglo-Indian Association — the participation was lower than expected. Even with the disappointing numbers, two live bands and merry dancing couples made the evening something to remember.
However, looking back, the signs heralding the death of a tradition were all present. The bands — Hi-Tensions and Scarlet Sensations — were at that time two decades old. Many of those who took the dance floor were not spring chicken. Except for the beauty pageant, men and women in the thirty-and-above age group dominated the events. Today, even this segment seems to have turned a cold shoulder to the May Queen.
“This is inevitable. Anglo-Indians are migrating to other countries. The ones staying on in India are losing touch with their traditions in many ways. The gowns have gone. Many of the young Anglo-Indian women wear salwar-kameez, and are indistinguishable from the rest of the population. There is another reason. May Queen Ball — apart from the tradition of dancing — is a pageant where the best-dressed and beautiful girl was crowned the May Queen. It was popular in the days when beauty pageants were rare. With many of them around now, May Queen does not appear as unique as it once did,” says Ronald Smith, a retired Anglo-Indian hotelier and active theatre person.
Harry MacLure, founder-editor of the magazine Anglos In the Wind , says the Christmas Ball has become more popular than the May Queen Ball. “It is only for Christmas that Anglo-Indians that have migrated to other places can take an extended break from work and return to the city,” explains MacLure, who rejects the theory that migration is mainly responsible for the loss of Anglo-Indian traditions in the city.
“It is not migration of Anglo-Indians, but the migration of Anglo-Indians steeped in the traditions of the community that has contributed to this situation.”
Paul Jacob of Bodhi Music settles the issue: “The typical Anglo-Indian teenager is highly Americanised, works in a call centre, enjoys his burgers, and gravitates towards night clubs and mainstream music. There is nothing in him that can draw him to the traditional and time-worn forms of entertainment.”
