A. E. T. Barrow (1908–1990) was an Indian politician who represented the Anglo-Indian community in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament of India. He was a long-serving nominated member who articulated the concerns of the Anglo-Indian minority during the early decades after Indian independence.
| Name | A. E. T. Barrow |
|---|---|
| Born | 1908 |
| Died | 1990 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Community | Anglo-Indian |
| Occupation | Politician, parliamentarian |
| Office | Member of the Lok Sabha (nominated, Anglo-Indian) |
Barrow belonged to the Anglo-Indian community, a small minority of mixed Indian and European descent recognised in the Constitution of India. Under Article 331 of the Constitution, the President of India had the authority to nominate up to two members of the Anglo-Indian community to the Lok Sabha if it was felt that the community was not adequately represented through elections. This provision was the route through which Barrow entered Parliament.
Barrow served as a nominated Member of Parliament representing the Anglo-Indian community in successive Lok Sabhas. In this capacity, he participated in legislative debates and committees, and worked to safeguard the educational, employment and cultural interests of Anglo-Indians, who were historically associated with sectors such as the Indian Railways, posts and telegraphs, customs, and English-medium school education.
As one of the parliamentary spokespersons of the Anglo-Indian community in independent India, Barrow contributed to the public articulation of minority concerns at the national level. His career illustrates the working of the constitutional provision for nominated Anglo-Indian representation, which remained in force until it was discontinued by the 104th Constitutional Amendment in 2020.