however the baghdadi jews of british india, including kolkata, were denied the legal inclusion as europeans during british rule. in 1885, the baghdadi jews were reclassified as from the government from european to native. it has been argued their late arrival in india and pale skin, as well as social habits and styles of dress, had seen them initially classified as european. the community was horrified to discover in 1885 their schools were no longer classified as european. for the remainder of british rule the baghdadi jews struggled to be recognised as european. they sought exemption from the 1878 indian arms act which forbade natives from carrying arms but were not successful. they sought to be moved from the non-muslim native electorate to the european electoral roll in 1929 and 1935 for elections to the bengal legislative council, but were not successful. many were resentful that the british would not socialise with them or permit them membership of the whites-only clubs that elite life in colonial kolkata revolved around or shared a sense the british were conquerors who ignored the jews.