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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 - Sunderbans Boat Repairs - Sunderbans

Amateur film 1935 11 mins Silent

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 Sikkim Devil 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 Town Darjeeling: 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 mins Silent

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

Non-Fiction 1926 6 mins Silent

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 Calcutta Picturesque India or, In and About Calcutta

Travelogue 1913 5 mins Silent

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 Patna Ranchi and Patna

Amateur film 1929 13 mins Silent

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

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

Non-Fiction 1922 2 mins Silent

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

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Imphal Bazaar Imphal Bazaar

Amateur film 1934 18 mins Silent

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

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Men Seeking God Men Seeking God

1930 11 mins Silent

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

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Old Barak Old Barak

Amateur film 1947 13 mins Silent

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

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From England to India by Air From England to India by Air

Documentary 1917 12 mins Silent

A state welcome for a Handley Page aircraft arriving in Kolkata

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Gurkhas and Shillong Scenery Gurkhas and Shillong Scenery

Amateur film 1930 12 mins Silent

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

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Puri Puri

Amateur film 1927 10 mins Silent

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

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Refugee Camp at Nampong Refugee Camp at Nampong

Amateur film 1942 11 mins Silent

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

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A Foot-hill Town A 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 Delhi Edward Prince of Wales' Tour of India: Calcutta and Delhi

Travelogue 1921 18 mins Silent

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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Bhutan Bhutan

Amateur film 1928 14 mins Silent

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 Tour Duke of Connaught's Indian Tour

Non-Fiction 1921 3 mins Silent

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

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Cuttack Leper Asylum Cuttack Leper Asylum

Documentary 1930 3 mins Silent

Amateur film featuring scenes at an Indian leper colony

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

Amateur film 1929 18 mins Silent

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

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Car Assembly, Calcutta Car Assembly, Calcutta

Amateur film 1926 2 mins Silent

Motorcars take shape - outdoors in a Kolkata yard

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Magnus Family in India Magnus Family in India

Amateur film 1927 12 mins Silent

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

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Viceroy's Cup Race Viceroy's Cup Race

Non-Fiction 1917 13 mins Silent

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 India Grand Lodge Deputation to India

Amateur film 1927 7 mins Silent

Footage shot during an intrepid hunting trip in India

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

Amateur film 1935 16 mins Silent

Amateur footage of a trip into the Himalaya

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Trip to Manipur Trip to Manipur

Amateur film 1935 17 mins Silent

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

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Shillong Scenes Shillong Scenes

Amateur film 1932 19 mins Silent

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

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

Non-Fiction 1922 7 mins Silent

Lord Lytton takes up the post of Governor of Bengal

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

Amateur film 1940 13 mins Silent

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 Calcutta Manufacturing Ropes and Marine Cables at Howrah, Near Calcutta

Non-Fiction 1909 8 mins Silent

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

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

Amateur film 1938 17 mins Silent

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 Shoot Lady Stephenson's Fete: Tiger Shoot

Amateur film 1928 17 mins Silent

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 Shoot Polo at Patna: Leopard Shoot

Amateur film 1928 16 mins Silent

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

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Indian Scenes Indian Scenes

Travelogue 1906 11 mins Silent

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

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Ukhrul Medical Tour Ukhrul Medical Tour

Amateur film 1934 11 mins Silent

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

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Government House Garden Party 1923 Government House Garden Party 1923

Non-Fiction 1923 2 mins Silent

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

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Calcutta Pageant Calcutta Pageant

Ceremony 1912 4 mins Silent

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 Orissa Horse Artillery at Bihar and Orissa

Amateur film 1928 10 mins Silent

Amateur film surveying colonial life in eastern India

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

Amateur film 1933 12 mins Silent

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

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Calcutta Topical Calcutta Topical

Non-Fiction 1926 10 mins Silent

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

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Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine Film Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine Film

Documentary 1927 15 mins Silent

Indian medical film about the parasitic disease kala azar

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

Non-Fiction 1925 6 mins Silent

Fashionably attired folk attend the races in Kolkata

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Viceroy's Cup at Calcutta Viceroy's Cup at Calcutta

Sport 1929 16 mins Silent

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

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Royal Visit to India and Nepal Royal Visit to India and Nepal

Non-Fiction 1922 7 mins Silent

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

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Darjeeling - Sir Stanley Jackson Darjeeling - Sir Stanley Jackson

Amateur film 1937 10 mins Silent

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

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

Amateur film 1935 12 mins Silent

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 Ceremony Rathjatra, Bone Ceremony

Amateur film 1936 4 mins Silent

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

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Kangchenjunga 1955 Kangchenjunga 1955

Amateur film 1955 107 mins Silent

Amateur footage of the British expedition to Kangchenjunga in 1955. Led by Charles Evans, this expedition saw the first ascent of the mountain.

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Fourth Everest Expedition Fourth Everest Expedition

Amateur film 1933 76 mins Silent

Percy Wyn-Harris' filmic record of the 1933 expedition, led by Hugh Ruttledge.

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Climbing Mt Everest Climbing Mt Everest

Non-Fiction 1922 83 mins Silent

The first film of Tibet, by Captain John Noel from the 1922 British expedition to Mount Everest, which was led by Brigadier General Charles Bruce.

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P.R. Oliver Everest Expedition P.R. Oliver Everest Expedition

Amateur film 1938 59 mins Silent

Amateur footage directed by Peter Oliver documenting the ‘Mount Everest Expedition 1938’, which was led by Bill Tilman.

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Sherriff Kodacolour No. 1 Sherriff Kodacolour No. 1

Amateur film 1935 8 mins Silent

Colour film of Sikkim / Tibet (no sound), photographed by Scottish explorer and plant collector George Sherriff in 1935.

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Sherriff Kodacolour No. 2 Sherriff Kodacolour No. 2

Amateur film 1935 9 mins Silent

Colour film of Sikkim / Tibet (no sound), photographed by Scottish explorer and plant collector George Sherriff in 1935.

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Sherriff Kodacolour No. 3 Sherriff Kodacolour No. 3

Amateur film 1935 6 mins Silent

Colour film of Sikkim / Tibet (no sound), photographed by Scottish explorer and plant collector George Sherriff in 1935.