The Search for "Home" in Empire: Experiences of Colonial and Migrational Anxiety

Abstract

This article examines the relationship between colonial and migrational anxiety through the lens of epistolary sources. The focus has been on more accurately defining the nature of the term colonial anxiety when discussing pre-Plassey colonial servants. The primary case-study for this has been Sir Robert Cowan, governor of Bombay (1729-34). This article calls for a revitalised debate on the approaches to anxiety among colonial servants in empire, and thus enabling a broader discussion of colonial and migrational anxiety in empire.