Imphal Bazaar

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). Stewart appears dressed in safari suit and solar topi, seated on the ground talking to a group of local men. One of the men who appears in a number of shots is Tengkukai, a Kuki Lambu (official translator). Elizabeth Stewart, his wife, can also be seen. Much of the film features scenes in villages near the Burmese border, with distinct pagoda-style architecture and Buddhist shrines.

At the Women's Bazaar, an evening market in Imphal, a group of European women including the filmmaker's family and friends (Mrs. W.L. Scott, Mrs. Chumleigh, Mrs. Stewart and Mrs. Imrie) negotiate the price of cloth. At the gymkhana at Imphal Mr C. Gimson (Stewart’s predecessor as Political Agent) is seen with a bicycle. The Maharaja of Manipur is greeted by Rai Bahadur Dr Ganesh Chandra Das, Honorary Assistant Civil Surgeon in Imphal while in the background a group of men perform a trick with fire. Manipuri polo players are inspected by the Maharaja and the Governor of Assam before the game starts. The Senapati, a high ranking local dignitary is carried in a litter. There’s a traditional spear-carrying Naga dance. Finally, a group of Angami Nagas people are seen pounding rice to make rice beer. 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 stroke 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".