INDIA - CUSTOMS IN THE VILLAGE

Year Published: 1957

Creator: Encyclopaedia Britannica Films

Description: Produced by E.S. and F.W. Von Keller for Encyclopædia Britannica Films (EB Films), “India: Customs in the Village” (1957) is a color documentary short film highlighting life and tradition in an Indian village in the state of Rajasthan (Northwest India) from Hindu customs and the caste system to a village wedding and celebration. The film features photography by Jack Cardiff and was made in collaboration with University of Pennsylvania professor W. Norman Brown, American Indologist and Sanskritist who established the first academic department of South Asian Studies in North America. This film is a re-edit of a 1938 "World Windows" series short film titled “A Village in India.” The State of Rajasthan is in northwestern India. It was formed on 30 March 1949 when the states of the Rajputana Agency of the erstwhile British Empire in India were merged into the new Indian Union. Its capital and largest city is Jaipur. Film opens, EB films logo (0:08). Title, opening credits (0:16). Map of India highlighting major cities in north, east, south, and west of country: Delhi, Calcutta, Madras, Bombay (0:32). Early dawn hours in village - haze of sun filters through trees, silhouette of woman carrying basket on her head (0:51). Indian ox rest on ground in front of mud house with thatched roof (1:08). Young boy plays hand whistle to call village elders to Hindu temple for early morning prayers (1:15). Men of village wearing draped white cloth make their way from homes to temple (1:46). Villagers, young and old, male and female, gather by the communal well for drinking water, to bathe, wash clothes (2:20). Man picks miswak from Salvadora persica/ “toothbrush tree” to clean mouth (2:40). Villagers work on producing yarn using charkha (spinning wheel), young boy takes completed yarn from spinning wheel and forms it into long strands (3:08). Other villages carryout thousand year old technique of woodblock printing on textiles (4:04). Group of women in colorful orange, magenta saris retrieve water from well when man of untouchable “dalit” caste asks for water; Changing customs outlawing untouchable caste (4:51). Couple from Brahmins (priests and teachers) caste leave home in fancy dress to attend a celebration (5:13). Village celebration and festival: Men stand around in circle while two young men show off wrestling skills in the middle, everyone cheers (5:35). Celebration of wedding in village, men wearing colorful traditional clothing lead marching band playing large brass instruments, drums (6:41). Mother-in-law places dot of red powder “Kumkuma” on bride’s forehead, identifying her as married woman (7:04). Coming-of-age ceremony for two young men at Hindu temple, priest gives them red string signifying they are Brahmins (7:35). Special Brahmin custom: Priest whispers into boys’ ears for the first time while hidden under pink cloth (8:21). Celebration into the night for young bride and groom, fire breaks out when one of the thatched roofs catches a light, everyone flees in a panic (8:30). During daylight hours villagers survey damage of fire, start rebuilding village from scratch using found natural materials (10:12). Closing credits (10:37). Film ends (10:42).

Complete Record: Produced by E.S. and F.W. Von Keller for Encyclopædia Britannica Films (EB Films), “India: Customs in the Village” (1957) is a color documentary short film highlighting life and tradition in an Indian village in the state of Rajasthan (Northwest India) from Hindu customs and the caste system to a village wedding and celebration. The film features photography by Jack Cardiff and was made in collaboration with University of Pennsylvania professor W. Norman Brown, American Indologist and Sanskritist who established the first academic department of South Asian Studies in North America. This film is a re-edit of a 1938 "World Windows" series short film titled “A Village in India.” The State of Rajasthan is in northwestern India. It was formed on 30 March 1949 when the states of the Rajputana Agency of the erstwhile British Empire in India were merged into the new Indian Union. Its capital and largest city is Jaipur. Film opens, EB films logo (0:08). Title, opening credits (0:16). Map of India highlighting major cities in north, east, south, and west of country: Delhi, Calcutta, Madras, Bombay (0:32). Early dawn hours in village - haze of sun filters through trees, silhouette of woman carrying basket on her head (0:51). Indian ox rest on ground in front of mud house with thatched roof (1:08). Young boy plays hand whistle to call village elders to Hindu temple for early morning prayers (1:15). Men of village wearing draped white cloth make their way from homes to temple (1:46). Villagers, young and old, male and female, gather by the communal well for drinking water, to bathe, wash clothes (2:20). Man picks miswak from Salvadora persica/ “toothbrush tree” to clean mouth (2:40). Villagers work on producing yarn using charkha (spinning wheel), young boy takes completed yarn from spinning wheel and forms it into long strands (3:08). Other villages carryout thousand year old technique of woodblock printing on textiles (4:04). Group of women in colorful orange, magenta saris retrieve water from well when man of untouchable “dalit” caste asks for water; Changing customs outlawing untouchable caste (4:51). Couple from Brahmins (priests and teachers) caste leave home in fancy dress to attend a celebration (5:13). Village celebration and festival: Men stand around in circle while two young men show off wrestling skills in the middle, everyone cheers (5:35). Celebration of wedding in village, men wearing colorful traditional clothing lead marching band playing large brass instruments, drums (6:41). Mother-in-law places dot of red powder “Kumkuma” on bride’s forehead, identifying her as married woman (7:04). Coming-of-age ceremony for two young men at Hindu temple, priest gives them red string signifying they are Brahmins (7:35). Special Brahmin custom: Priest whispers into boys’ ears for the first time while hidden under pink cloth (8:21). Celebration into the night for young bride and groom, fire breaks out when one of the thatched roofs catches a light, everyone flees in a panic (8:30). During daylight hours villagers survey damage of fire, start rebuilding village from scratch using found natural materials (10:12). Closing credits (10:37). Film ends (10:42).

Transcription

e [Music] there are great cities in India Bombay Kolkata Delhi like great cities everywhere they are constantly changing and growing more modern each day see less difference between a city in America and Europe or in [Music] India small villages change more slowly Customs are just as they have been for a 100 years or a thousand 11 million Indians live in the eight largest cities but over 345 million live in small villages only here in villages like this one in the state of rajastan can the old unchanged life of India still be found Farmers rise early to do as much as they can in the morning's cool hours first the elders men respected by the village for their wisdom and piety go to their Temple to pray the Hindu way of life is pervaded by Deep religious devotion but there is a wide variety of belief in Hinduism anyone is free to follow any ritual for there are no absolute doctrines the Hindu way of life is based on Villages such as this one the pivot of Indian Society these people have little contact with the outside world they grow their own food food depending on one another Village Farmers offer up their prayers asking blessings on the day's work before going to the fields praying for enough Sun enough rain and not too much of either this part of India is hot and baked by the Sun the well built by the villagers together in joint Community effort plays a vital part in their lives this Village is better off than most because it has an abundant supply of water we take water for granted but here it is as important as life itself where one dry year can mean starvation enough water means food to eat and perhaps a little time spent away from the backbreaking work of growing food from the Arid land in any farm community there is the problem of keeping busy during the season when there is no work to be done in the field out of his knowledge of his people's needs the Great Indian leader mahat Mandi popularized the use of the spinning wheel children work too they are given the simpler jobs this young boy is taking the yarn that comes off the spinning wheel and forming it into long strands the people work in the same time honored way their grandfathers and great-grandfathers did this primitive method of blocking patterns on cloth is very much the same as that used a thousand years ago Customs change slowly in the village many are deep rooted in the past the lives of the villagers are restricted in many ways Rama and his wife follow the beliefs of their Village even when they may appear unreasonable to The Outsider by tradition for example this man an untouchable could not drink from the village well discrimination against Untouchables has been abolished by law and old Customs are changing in the village though changing slowly Rama and his wife are dressed in their best clothes about to leave for an important celebration they are brahmins originally a class of priests or holy men there are many Brahman casts and these casts are considered to be the highest among the several thousand casts in Indian life today the village is celebrating one of the many festivals which break up the monotony of Village Life the young men Delight in showing off their skill in wrestling everyone gathers to [Music] watch the match over two new boys volunteer [Music] the crowd seems as excited as the young wrestlers [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] The Village's amusements and entertainment are what they provide for themselves festivals of Thanksgiving and religious ceremonies too offer an excuse for games and pageantry when a girl from a wealthy family marries the wedding celebration is a celebration for everybody all the villagers dressed in their best clothes join in the music and dancing a marriage is celebrated with many different ceremonies both joyous and [Music] Solem the Mother-in-law places a mark of red powder called a kungum on the bride's forehead which identifies her as a married woman [Music] by Hindu tradition a man cannot change the cast into which he is born after much instruction and prayer these Brahman boys are initiated into manhood they receive a brightly colored thread which is a sacred thread from the priest they will wear this always since it identifies them as brahmins the special customs and traditions sacred to brahin are whispered in their ears for the first time a young bride and groom are being honored at a dinner in small villages even a poor man may go into debt in order to have an impressive wedding the villagers usually go to bed directly after Sunset lamps are scarce and fuel is costly but tonight is an exception [Music] [Laughter] suddenly tragedy occurs a cry of fire is [Music] heard the thatched roofs of these houses are so dry and baked by the Sun that fire is a constant Danger The Wedding guests flee into the night neighbors rushed to help stop the fire from spreading [Music] [Applause] there is no equipment available to fight the fire the men try to beat the Flames out but it has spread too quickly The Village has been destroyed but people who have survived thousands of years of every kind of hardship a community work project is organized everyone joins in a new Village will rise from the old symbol of the new India Rising today built with new ideas ideas and new materials on the foundation of traditions inherited from yesterday [Music]

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