This film is part of Free
Scenes at his Excellency the Viceroys's Garden Party at Belvedere
Indian high society enjoy themselves at a Calcutta garden party held to welcome the new Viceroy, Lord Irwin.
Overview
This film gave Indian cinema audiences the chance to rub shoulders with India's elite and catch a glimpse of the men who ruled their country - and their families. We see not one but two Viceroys: Lord Irwin (shown in the first table shots) became Viceroy in April 1926 after Lord Lytton (who was Governor of Bengal and is seen in the second table shot) filled the post on a temporary basis. The party was held at Belvedere House, the Viceregal residence before India's capital was moved from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911. While we can name the key British figures in the film, the identity of the Indian guests is unknown, nor does the film identify them.
The film was likely to have been made by Madan Theatres Ltd., an Indian cinema chain. Later shots show Lady Dorothy Wood (Irwin's wife) and Lytton's wife Pamela as well as their children, Ann Wood and Anthony and Davina Bulwar-Lytton, who are seated at a 'children's table' along with an Indian royal prince. In spite of these festivities, Irwin's period as viceroy was not easy as he oversaw intense Indian protests for further political devolution and was forced to negotiate with Gandhi to bring the nationwide Civil Disobedience movement to an end. Dr. Eleanor Newbigin (SOAS University of London)
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