Co-produced by Empire Photosound Incorporated and Image India Films, e.g., India is a short 1966 film that recaps the 1965 4-H Club Foundation’s International Farm Youth Exchange (IFYE) program, sponsored by International Minerals and Chemical Corporation. The film begins with Dana Andrews (famous 1940s actor) describing the need for the youth of the world to invest themselves in agriculture and food production in order to meet the growing demands of feeding the world. Andrews explains that IFYE is a great way to engage young men and women throughout the world to do this. The film then moves to India, where it follows the film’s narrator, Richard Hawkins. Rural India (02:26) is dominated by agriculture, but most people operate small farms and work the land using traditional equipment and methods. Hawkins explains that IFYE sends young Americans to countries throughout the world, while those nations send their youth to America, so everyone can learn from each other and build a better future. The American group in India visit with Indian officials (03:39), before going “home” to their host families (04:35). Hawkins and his fellow Americans experience Indian life through the exchange; one of the American women dresses up (05:24) in traditional Indian clothes. The IFYE men and women travel through the provinces, introducing people to modern ideas in farming and discussing how communities can work together to create change. The Americans learn recipes from Indians, but they also introduce their Indian hosts to their own favorite American dishes. Hawkins observes a stick plow (07:02) drawn by cattle, then shows the Indian men how to use a tractor to plow. IFYE members also present modern techniques of irrigation, livestock production, fertilizing, and poultry farming to the communities they visit. Progress is slow in India, according to Hawkins, given that most farmers only have an acre or two to farm. While India’s young generation is looking to change and modernize some things, Hawkins notes how they are blending it with their rich heritage. Hawkins mentions the Umaid Bhawan Palace (10:18), the making of rangoli—the traditional welcoming of dignitaries, Indian stage performances (10:44), and traditional dances (11:05) as examples of the proud Indian heritage. The film then turns to one of the sixteen Indian men and women visiting the U.S. as part of the exchange, who is trying to dance to American music (12:06) at the 4-H International gathering at Kansas State University. The IFYE program is six months long, and the film shows a montage of famous sights in India (14:25) as Hawkins talks about his experiences. The American group returns home and gives a briefing to the International Minerals and Chemical Corporation, the company that sponsors the exchange (15:15). Then, the young Americans go out to speak to other young Americans about the importance of food production and continue the work they started during the IFYE program. The film closes with a variety of scenes of Americans helping Indians with new farming techniques.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
