THE CHANGING EAST - INDIA (PART 2) [Main Title]

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  • Title: THE CHANGING EAST - INDIA (PART 2) [Main Title]
  • Film Number: MGH 6251
  • Other titles: COLONEL HODGKINSON - AMATEUR FILM [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: Part two of two (the first part is MGH 6250). This film is possibly the second part of "The Changing East - India". It shows disturbing scenes of the refugees in Kashmir/Northwest India, at the time of the partition in 1947. The film also shows Gandhi's funeral in 1948, and Lord and Lady Mountbatten leaving Government House, New Delhi.
  • Description: A British officer stands in front of a wall map of India, titled 'General Situation'. He points to the Northwest region. A breakdown of the region's population is shown 'Population of Punjab 1941. Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Others'. Cuts briefly to scenes of refugees, then back to statistics, then further scenes of refugees. Shots of several men with spears and handmade gun walking towards camera. Back to the map - 'West Punjab - East Punjab Refugee Concentrations', points to city west of Amritsar and then Amritsar. Close-up of men with guns and weapons. A building on fire. Two Red Cross workers carry a child on a stretcher onto a train. Lady Mountbatten, wearing khaki uniform, steps out of train. Close-up of people squashed onto train. A temple (in Amritsar?) with refugee camp outside. Scenes around the camp - people collecting water. Refugees talking to Government Minister ? (Indian man in pith helmet, round glasses) - he takes notes. Close-ups of malnourished children in the camp. Further scenes showing the devastation and poor conditions of the camp. Close-up of the map. The officer points out the route of the refugees ? from Kurukshetra to Ambala to Ludhiana to Moga. Aerial shots of the refugees on the road. Ground shots of the refugees. A milestone shows 'Lahore 158, Ludhiana 37, Khanna 11'. Further shots of the long line of refugees from the air, and at ground level families and their possessions loaded onto cattle-drawn carts. Close-ups of distressed refugees. Close-up of Indian officer. Lady Mountbatten, in Red Cross uniform, talking to refugees. Close-up of the officer's lapel covered in flies. Further scenes of Lady Mountbatten talking to officers and aid workers at the camp. Brief shot of milestone, then Lady Mountbatten again, but now wearing headscarf. Aerial shots of refugees on the road. Refugees on train at station, some in 'beds' on the roof. Sign at station reads 'Ambala'. Further scenes of refugees at the station, then more aerial shots. Scenes of long line of refugees on the road, families sitting on carts. Scenes around the camp, a sick man lying on the floor. A woman cooking on the floor, a man holds a small child outside makeshift shelters. Street scene - people outside a row of shops. Shop sign reads 'Universal Publishing Co., publishers, booksellers, Esplanade Rd, Delhi'. More street scenes, people with bicycles. Close-up of a bicycle shop sign. Men on the street looking through books outside bookshop. A man hands out books to men on the street. Close-up of Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel speaking at Gandhi's funeral, the day after his death - Rajghat, New Delhi, India (31/01/1948). A bronze bust of Gandhi with floral garlands in front of him. Close-up of picture of Gandhi and a flag on a shrine. An Indian man spinning yarn. At the shrine, Indian soldiers hold back a crowd of mourners. Mourners file out of 'marquee' where Gandhi's ashes are. Crowds in the street (flags and bunting). A procession of mourners, some carrying burning torches, and military. Cut to building on fire. Cut back to Gandhi's funeral - an area covered with red, yellow and white floral garlands. Mourners sit around. Close-up of Indian woman talking and praying into microphone. A little boy prays at a shrine. Sadar Vallabhbhai Patel addresses the crowd. Some of the crowd slow-handclaps. Gandhi's ashes (in an urn) at a train window, the train is decorated with Indian flag. Crowds at the station. The urn is covered with garlands. Scenes at the station of people touching and kissing the urn. The urn is carried through the streets and a man holds it over his head. Further scenes of mourners. Close-up of a leaf with an Indian flag and portrait of Gandhi painted on it. Brief close-up of Patel, Gandhi's bust in front of him. Close-up of man spinning yarn. Close-up of small children (dressed in 'Anglo' clothes) in school. The teacher shows pictures from a 'Nursery Rhymes' books. Scenes of the children playing and buying sweets from a street vendor. Shots of older girls eating. A British man talks to the children gathered around, when they disperse Lady Mountbatten can be seen amongst them. Close-up of an Indian man and woman (teachers?). Close-up of a British man (headmaster?) and two children, they walk towards the camera. Government House, New Delhi. Officers gathered on the steps outside, on red carpet. Lord Mountbatten descends steps and inspects troops in the grounds. Close-up of Royal Scots Fusiliers guard wearing bearskin hat) and drummers. Scenes of troops on parade. Close-up of a drum-major. Lord Mountbatten and two officers return to their seats. The parade continues. The Governor General's Bodyguards (mounted Sikhs in red tunics). Group shot on steps, Lord Mountbatten salutes. Three servants in Government House with gold-ware. Close-up of the gold dish with the Mounbatten (?) coat of arms. Long-shot of dining table in Government House [incorrect speed]. Lord Mountbatten unveils gold-ware, from behind Union Jack and Indian flag. Exterior shot of Government House with red carpet on steps. The Governor General's Bodyguards lined up at base of steps. a shot of a horse-drawn carriage. The Mountbattens descend the steps (followed by one of their daughters? Pamela or Patricia?). Shot of a small boy in military uniform walking away form the carriage. Cut to scene of Lord and Lady Mountbatten shaking hands with cabinet members (?) at airport (?). Close-up of carriage and coat of arms. Cut back to Lord and Lady Mountbatten shaking hands with people including Indira Gandhi (?). Also visible behind is Pamela or Patricia (?) Mountbatten. Long-shot of Nehru, Chakravarti Rajopalachari and two others on the steps of Government House. Brief shot of crowds on the street. The Mountbattens leave Government House in the carriage, escorted by their mounted guards, and watched by crowds and press photographers. Shots of crowds in the street. In the gardens of Government House, two of the Governor General's Bodyguards walk towards the camera. Chakravarti Rajopalachari, accompanied by bodyguards. Chakravarti Rajopalachari and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel meet. Brief shot of Nehru. People are introduced to Chakravarti Rajopalachari and Patel (one man shows Chakravarti Rajopalachari his ciné camera), including Royal Air Force officers, clergymen, Indian Army officers and United Nations representatives. Shots of Nehru and Patel talking. Shot of an Indian officer. A brief shot of others in Government House gardens. Men scatter white petals on a shrine to Gandhi. A man reads from a piece of paper into a microphone. Close-up of the picture of Gandhi on the shrine. Shot of the crowd hanging their heads in prayer, women dressed in white. A man (Nehru?) addresses the crowd. Very brief shot of Kripalani at railway station. Very brief shot of paddy fields. Close-up of a man with two baskets of fruit. Shot of a malnourished child (as previously). Refugees with cattle and carts. Aerial views of refugees. Indian schoolchildren (as previously). Handpainted illustration of train of people disappearing into the distant mountains - "The End".
  • Alternative Title: COLONEL HODGKINSON - AMATEUR FILM [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: Colour
  • Digitised: Yes
  • Object_Number: MGH 6251
  • Sound: Silent
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © IWM
  • Featured Period:
  • Production Date: 1952
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Hodgkinson, Frank Outram (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:Mountbatten, Louis (Earl) Mountbatten, Louis (Earl) (person) Mountbatten, Edwina (Countess) (person)
  • Keywords:
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour Sound format: Silent Soundtrack language: None Title language: None Subtitle language: None
  • Technical Details: Format: 16mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Running time: 45 mins
  • HD Media:Yes
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    MGH 6251

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