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Title: KALIMPONG

Reference number: 4292

Date: 1953*

Sponsor: The Foreign Mission Committee of the Church of Scotland

Sound: silent

Original format: 16mm

Colour: col

Fiction: non-fiction

Running time: 44.39 mins

Description: Missionary work in the East Himalayas. Concentrated on the bustling town of Kalimpong, the film examines the huge problems faced by the Church in alleviating fear, ignorance, poverty, malnutrition and disease amongst the refugee and poverty stricken population, comprised of many nationalities and religions.

Intertitles at end of film give a summary of the subject of the film as follows: Kalimpong- an outpost of civilisation, geographically and ideologically, facing the threat of Communism. The sufferings of the people from fear, ignorance, poverty, malnutrition and disease are on a scale beyond the range of our imagination..... a challenge overcome by teamwork, courage and self sacrifice of a high order. These same qualities are evident in Indian Christian and Scottish Missionary.

Credits: p. James Ballantyne

Shotlist: [Please note viewing material currently available features the Charteris Hospital only - see Reel 3]

REEL I
gvs Kalimpong, gvs street scenes around the crowded towns, with shots of people of many countries such as Nepal, Tibet or Mongolia shots of Gurkhas; shots of mountains, beggars from Tibet
mule trains arrive carrying their wares - mostly wool (6.26) gvs the 'mela' or fairground used for functions and football; Kalimpong has often been a clearing house for refugees, recently white Russians and Mongolians from Communist Rule, earlier Chinese from Japanese aggression; Well-meriting the name 'Little Asia' its races, cultures and religions are of the widest diversity gvs street scenes and people around the town; Buddism, a product of Indian thought, survives only in the mountain region of India and in Ceylon, Tibet, Burma and China shots of a Buddhist monastery; They do not seem to take their religion seriously but a few reveal a desire for something better; Prayers are offered mechanically by drums, wheels and flags; Chinese follow Conficus or Communism, Nepalese are Hindus, Indians are Hindus, Jains or Parsees, Pakistanis are Moslems and Lepchas worship demons (13.00) 351ft

REEL II
The story of the Christian church, including the MacFarlane memorial church and the variety of work with congregations, evangelism and the education of children and training of teachers (15.35) 420ft

REEL III
Concentrates on medical care. Shots of The Charteris Hospital, established 1893; gvs maternity wards, treatment of tuberculosis in the isolation block; surgery; The Ogilvie Nurses' Home; welfare clinic; hospital for people with leprosy; Tibetan dispensary which helps muleteers and travellers; shots of the first Tibetan minister being ordained; His wider ministry includes the editing, publishing & circulating of the only Tibetan newspaper (16.04) 434ft