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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 film193511 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

Travelogue19349 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

Travelogue193410 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-Fiction18992 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-Fiction19266 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

Travelogue19135 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 film192913 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-Fiction19222 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 film193418 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

193011 minsSilent

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

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Old BarakOld Barak

Amateur film194713 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

Documentary191712 minsSilent

A state welcome for a Handley Page aircraft arriving in Kolkata

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Gurkhas and Shillong SceneryGurkhas and Shillong Scenery

Amateur film193012 minsSilent

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

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PuriPuri

Amateur film192710 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 film194211 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

Documentary19379 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

Travelogue192118 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 film192814 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-Fiction19213 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

Documentary19303 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 film192918 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 film19262 minsSilent

Motorcars take shape - outdoors in a Kolkata yard

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Magnus Family in IndiaMagnus Family in India

Amateur film192712 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-Fiction191713 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 film19277 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 film193516 minsSilent

Amateur footage of a trip into the Himalaya

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Trip to ManipurTrip to Manipur

Amateur film193517 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 film193219 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-Fiction19227 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 film194013 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-Fiction19098 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 film193817 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 film192817 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 film192816 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

Travelogue190611 minsSilent

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

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Ukhrul Medical TourUkhrul Medical Tour

Amateur film193411 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-Fiction19232 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

Ceremony19124 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 film192810 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 film193312 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-Fiction192610 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

Documentary192715 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-Fiction19256 minsSilent

Fashionably attired folk attend the races in Kolkata

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Viceroy's Cup at CalcuttaViceroy's Cup at Calcutta

Sport192916 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-Fiction19227 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 film193710 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 film193512 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 film19364 minsSilent

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 1955Kangchenjunga 1955

Amateur film1955107 minsSilent

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 ExpeditionFourth Everest Expedition

Amateur film193376 minsSilent

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

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Climbing Mt EverestClimbing Mt Everest

Non-Fiction192283 minsSilent

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 ExpeditionP.R. Oliver Everest Expedition

Amateur film193859 minsSilent

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. 1Sherriff Kodacolour No. 1

Amateur film19358 minsSilent

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. 2Sherriff Kodacolour No. 2

Amateur film19359 minsSilent

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. 3Sherriff Kodacolour No. 3

Amateur film19356 minsSilent

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