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East and North-East India

A journey from Odisha to Kolkata to the Buddhist communities of West Bengal and the diverse people of the north-eastern states.

From home movie footage of Puri in 1927 we head via Ranchi and Patna to Kolkata and an extraordinary selection of films shot in the former colonial capital. Heading north on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway we stop off in Sikkim to witness spectacular Buddhist processions filmed in colour. Heading east, the collection highlights the ethnographic films shot by explorers across the north-easten states. The collection includes films from Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.

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Boat Repairs - SunderbansBoat Repairs - Sunderbans

Amateur film 1935 11 minsSilent

Stunning colour footage showing colonial life in the hills of Assam and bustling activity on the lakes below

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Devil Dancers of SikkimDevil Dancers of Sikkim

Travelogue 1934 9 mins

Hear the Lama band, see the sacred dances: welcome to Sikkim, in the shadow of the Himalayas.

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Darjeeling: A Foothill TownDarjeeling: A Foothill Town

Travelogue 1934 10 mins

Evocative travelogue exploring life at the foot of the Himalayas, including tea gardens and a Buddhist shrine

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Panorama of Calcutta, India, From the River Ganges.Panorama of Calcutta, India, From the River Ganges.

Non-Fiction 1899 2 minsSilent

One of the earliest films to be shot in India apparently shows the Calcutta ghats - or does it?

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Scenes at his Excellency the Viceroys's Garden Party at BelvedereScenes at his Excellency the Viceroys's Garden Party at Belvedere

Non-Fiction 1926 6 minsSilent

Indian high society enjoy themselves at a Calcutta garden party held to welcome the new Viceroy, Lord Irwin.

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Picturesque India or, In and About CalcuttaPicturesque India or, In and About Calcutta

Travelogue 1913 5 minsSilent

Botanical gardens in Bombay (now Mumbai) plus the highly decorative Jain Temple in Calcutta (now Kolkata) as they were in 1913.

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Ranchi and PatnaRanchi and Patna

Amateur film 1929 13 minsSilent

Amateur footage around Bihar and what is now Jharkhand in east India

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Her Excellency Lady Lytton at the Victoria MemorialHer Excellency Lady Lytton at the Victoria Memorial

Non-Fiction 1922 2 minsSilent

Lady Pamela Lytton, wife of the Governor of Bengal, visits the grand marble Victoria Memorial in Calcutta (Kolkata)

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Imphal BazaarImphal Bazaar

Amateur film 1934 18 minsSilent

Richly detailed home movie shot in Manipur by G.P. Stewart, member of the Indian Civil Service

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Men Seeking GodMen Seeking God

1930 11 minsSilent

An inside view of Methodism taking root in India – and dealing with leprosy.

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Old BarakOld Barak

Amateur film 1947 13 minsSilent

Glorious colour film of a fishing trip and geese-hunting expedition in north-eastern India

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From England to India by AirFrom England to India by Air

Documentary 1917 12 minsSilent

A state welcome for a Handley Page aircraft arriving in Kolkata

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Gurkhas and Shillong SceneryGurkhas and Shillong Scenery

Amateur film 1930 12 minsSilent

The festival of Dashian is celebrated in rural India - including scenes of animal sacrifice

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PuriPuri

Amateur film 1927 10 minsSilent

Unguarded images of Europeans and Indians at Puri on the Bay of Bengal

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Refugee Camp at NampongRefugee Camp at Nampong

Amateur film 1942 11 minsSilent

Film document of a true act of heroism in the wake of a Namphuk River flood

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A Foot-hill TownA Foot-hill Town

Documentary 1937 9 mins

Darjeeling - a portrait of the Raj hill station made for schools

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Edward Prince of Wales' Tour of India: Calcutta and DelhiEdward Prince of Wales' Tour of India: Calcutta and Delhi

Travelogue 1921 18 minsSilent

The future Edward VIII opens a durbar and enjoys a day at the races before inspecting the fire brigade in Calcutta

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BhutanBhutan

Amateur film 1928 14 minsSilent

This amateur film captures the Maharajah of Bhutan watching the marking of the Assam/Bhutan boundary.

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Duke of Connaught's Indian TourDuke of Connaught's Indian Tour

Non-Fiction 1921 3 minsSilent

In this newsreel report the Duke rides an elephant as he ventures on safari in Bengal.

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Cuttack Leper AsylumCuttack Leper Asylum

Documentary 1930 3 minsSilent

Amateur film featuring scenes at an Indian leper colony

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Governor's Durbar, Bihar and OrissaGovernor's Durbar, Bihar and Orissa

Amateur film 1929 18 minsSilent

Official duties and big game hunting in 1920s India, filmed by Lord Stephenson’s private secretary

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Car Assembly, CalcuttaCar Assembly, Calcutta

Amateur film 1926 2 minsSilent

Motorcars take shape - outdoors in a Kolkata yard

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Magnus Family in IndiaMagnus Family in India

Amateur film 1927 12 minsSilent

A colonial family record their travels as they holiday around north and eastern India

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Viceroy's Cup RaceViceroy's Cup Race

Non-Fiction 1917 13 minsSilent

Lords and ladies gather in Calcutta (Kolkata) for the Viceroy’s Cup, an exclusive horseracing event, in this actuality film.

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Grand Lodge Deputation to IndiaGrand Lodge Deputation to India

Amateur film 1927 7 minsSilent

Footage shot during an intrepid hunting trip in India

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Guthrie Collection - Gangtok and Sikkim Trip - C. 1935Guthrie Collection - Gangtok and Sikkim Trip - C. 1935

Amateur film 1935 16 minsSilent

Amateur footage of a trip into the Himalaya

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Trip to ManipurTrip to Manipur

Amateur film 1935 17 minsSilent

Amateur film of a road trip through northeastern India, showing traditional dances and a gigantic flower float

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Shillong ScenesShillong Scenes

Amateur film 1932 19 minsSilent

Golf - and other pursuits - in the 'abode of clouds'

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Arrival of the Earl of Lytton at CalcuttaArrival of the Earl of Lytton at Calcutta

Non-Fiction 1922 7 minsSilent

Lord Lytton takes up the post of Governor of Bengal

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Sir Basil Gould Collection No. 7 - Procession at GangtokSir Basil Gould Collection No. 7 - Procession at Gangtok

Amateur film 1940 13 minsSilent

Traditional games, dancing and music among the people of Sikkim - in vivid colour

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Manufacturing Ropes and Marine Cables at Howrah, Near CalcuttaManufacturing Ropes and Marine Cables at Howrah, Near Calcutta

Non-Fiction 1909 8 minsSilent

Strung out on hemp and coconuts: Indian industry supplies a maritime fix

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S.E. Tibet and E. BhutanS.E. Tibet and E. Bhutan

Amateur film 1938 17 minsSilent

Amateur footage of a trip to Tibet and Bhutan, including shots of the flora and fauna.

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Lady Stephenson's Fete: Tiger ShootLady Stephenson's Fete: Tiger Shoot

Amateur film 1928 17 minsSilent

Eccentric home movie scenes of the high life in British India, shot by Lord Stephenson’s private secretary

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Polo at Patna: Leopard ShootPolo at Patna: Leopard Shoot

Amateur film 1928 16 minsSilent

Amateur film of a polo match at Patna, Bihar, followed by scenes of elephants and a leopard hunt.

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Indian ScenesIndian Scenes

Travelogue 1906 11 minsSilent

Remarkable early documentary turning the camera on life in Kolkata and Mumbai

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Ukhrul Medical TourUkhrul Medical Tour

Amateur film 1934 11 minsSilent

A doctor and party visit the villages of eastern Manipur in India's far north east

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Government House Garden Party 1923Government House Garden Party 1923

Non-Fiction 1923 2 minsSilent

Scenes at a garden party given by Earl Lytton, Governor of Bengal, at Government House, Calcutta (now Kolkata).

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Calcutta PageantCalcutta Pageant

Ceremony 1912 4 minsSilent

A lavish pageant held during the royal visit to India, celebrating King George V’s coronation

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Horse Artillery at Bihar and OrissaHorse Artillery at Bihar and Orissa

Amateur film 1928 10 minsSilent

Amateur film surveying colonial life in eastern India

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Procession of Elephants at Jaipur; Galta; Raj MahalProcession of Elephants at Jaipur; Galta; Raj Mahal

Amateur film 1933 12 minsSilent

Armoured elephants, sacred monkeys and a camel carriage feature in Col. George Craster’s home movie despatch from Rajasthan

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Calcutta TopicalCalcutta Topical

Non-Fiction 1926 10 minsSilent

Extravagant military ceremonies and the start of the Calcutta (Kolkata) 'season'

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Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine FilmCalcutta School of Tropical Medicine Film

Documentary 1927 15 minsSilent

Indian medical film about the parasitic disease kala azar

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Calcutta Topical No. 1 for 1925Calcutta Topical No. 1 for 1925

Non-Fiction 1925 6 minsSilent

Fashionably attired folk attend the races in Kolkata

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Viceroy's Cup at CalcuttaViceroy's Cup at Calcutta

Sport 1929 16 minsSilent

Film of the 1929 Viceroy’s Cup horse race held in Calcutta (Kolkata).

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Royal Visit to India and NepalRoyal Visit to India and Nepal

Non-Fiction 1922 7 minsSilent

Edward, Prince of Wales, visits India and Nepal and goes on a tiger hunt.

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Darjeeling - Sir Stanley JacksonDarjeeling - Sir Stanley Jackson

Amateur film 1937 10 minsSilent

Home movie hinting at the opulence of life for some British officials in India

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Tours in Southern Bengal - In the SunderbansTours in Southern Bengal - In the Sunderbans

Amateur film 1935 12 minsSilent

Everyday life and places of interest around the areas of Midnapore and Chittagong, including steamers and Indian boats along the Damodar river.

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Rathjatra, Bone CeremonyRathjatra, Bone Ceremony

Amateur film 1936 4 minsSilent

Home movie footage of a sword dance and ceremonies in Manipur, shot by a member of the Indian Civil Service