Rathjatra, Bone Ceremony

This film is from the collection of G.P. (Gerry) Stewart, a member of the Indian Civil Service based in Manipur in the northeast of India, near the border with Burma (now Myanmar). The film opens with a Manipuri sword dance in the grounds of the Maharajah's palace, Imphal. By the ruined walls of the old palace Mr Jeffreys, the Manipur State Engineer, can be seen pointing to the spot where, in 1892, the locals beheaded the Chief Commissioner of Assam - a Mr Quenton. The Rath Jatra ceremony is also seen.

According to the filmmaker the 'bone' ceremony was "of the aged Senapati (a senior prince of Manipur) after his death. As far as I can remember, the frontal bone of the deceased's skull was not cremated but kept. In this sequence the bone, I believe, was being carried in state on the litter." By the night of Indian Independence Stewart had become the British Political Agent and performed the ceremony of the transfer of power at the Residency (now Raj Bhavan). At the strike of midnight, Stewart stood up and announced to Maharaja Bodhchandra Singh of Manipur, "Your highness, from this moment, Britain has ceased to have any authority in India. Goodbye". They shook hands, sat down and Stewart immediately stood up again to announce, “Good morning, your highness. I am the first Dominion Agent of India".