India, My India; As in My Time

Item Information

Title:
India, My India; As in My Time
Description:
In this second episode of the series, Abbas returns to the scenes of his high school, university and military training. He finds great nostalgia in the market places where nothing has changed except the prices ... the food is still the same, musicians still play in the streets, and people still gather to watch the partridge fights. He describes the youth in India today as refugees form the country's fight for independence ... young people who are trying to identify themselves with a generation of the past. In visiting his high school and university, he discovers that students are much more involved with science and technology than in his student days. In visiting the army unit where Abbas was a young officer in the fight for independence, he finds that the officers' corps is now completely staffed with Indians, and not British as in his military career. However, the unit still carries on many of the British traditions. Abbas recalls that as a young lieutenant, he was required to speak English and not allowed to speak his native language in his own country. Even after his country has gained independence, his brother's three children attend a Catholic school where they, along with other Hindu and Moslem children, are taught by German nuns. With all of the Western influence scattered through the country past and present, primitive rituals and labors still exist as they have in the past: the washer man can still be heard chanting while he dips clothes in the river and slaps them on a rock. Abbas sums up his observations, saying, "Today, as in my time, the facts of India still defeat the philosophers." And he feels assured that whatever the changes, India will adapt itself and make it on its own. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche) When India gained independence in 1947 and the land was divided into India and Pakistan, Yavar Abbas was disillusioned and left his homeland with his English wife and his infant son to live in England. After 17 years he returns to become reunited with his relatives and friends. This four-part series follows Abbas as he takes a nostalgic look at his past and visits places of his youth and early manhood. In these and other places, he sees something of the old and familiar India and the new independent country. The film won the Marconi Award at the International Film Market in Milan in 1967. India! My India! is a presentation of National Educational Television. The 4 half-hour episodes that comprise this series were originally recorded on film, but were distributed to NET stations in black and white on videotape. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
Producer:
Weston, William
Producer:
Abbas, Yavar
Director:
Abbas, Yavar
Composer:
Batish, S. D.
Host:
Abbas, Yavar
Date:
June 16, 1968
Format:
Film/Video
Genre:
Documentary
Location:
Library of Congress
Collection (local):
American Archive of Public Broadcasting Collection
Series:
Library of Congress > India, My India
Subjects:
Education
Biography
Travel
Military Forces and Armaments
Extent:
00:26:38
Link to Item:
https://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-516-nv9959d984
Terms of Use:
Rights status not evaluated.
Contact host institution for more information.
Notes:
Episode Number: 2