The partition of the Indian sub-continent in 1947 is probably one of the most under reported stories of the 20th century. However, in the last few years there has been a clear, upward trend in the number of researchers and historians, who have been excavating and unearthing this long buried event and looking and examining at it from different angles. Filmmaker Sarah Singh of New York is one of those people, who decided to take a look at the event and how it impacted the people and communities on both sides of the border: India and Pakistan. The result is a compelling and brilliant documentary called The Sky Below.

This month Sarah is traveling around in the UK, Austria and Australia to show her film. I have listed  the date, time and venue where you can catch the film at the end of the post.

Last month I saw The Sky Below at Stanford. Like many people in the audience I was amazed to how Sarah put together this documentary. She was the producer, director, camera person and editor of the film. That is a lot to do for one person and happily for her the final product is one that prompts you to stop and think. I also got an opportunity to talk to Sarah briefly about how she made the film. She had over 100 hours of film footage and it took her over 4 months of intense editing before the first version of the film was born. Sarah’s dedication and passion to tell the story is clearly reflected in the film.

A couple of years ago Sarah quit her job New York and went to the Indian sub-continent. It appears Sarah’s goal was to chronicle and understand what really happened 60 years ago. What memories and perspectives do people to have and remember of that horrible event? She traveled from Kutch to Kashmir and to Pakistan to understand what historical residues have been left behind? What memories do people have of that event, especially those who had to leave their home and go elsewhere to make a new home, identity and life? How did that event shape the history and politics of India and Pakistan?

And if you are wondering about the title The Sky Below here is an interesting historical tidbit. Sir Cyril Radcliff, the British officer who was in charge of partitioning the India sub-continent never physically visited the region by foot. Instead, he did an aerial sortie and got a quick look of the region from above. What Radcliff missed and failed to understand are the consequences of his actions that took place below the sky in August 1947. In an ironical twist, it appears that Sir. Radcliff had poor eyesight.

Sarah is traveling around in the UK, Austria and Australia in the next month.  Listed below are the date, time and venue where you can catch the film.

UK PREMIERE:

Nov 15th (London) http://www.vam.ac.uk/microsites/maharaja/events.html

Oxford: Nov 17, 2009

London School of Economics: Nov 19th (London)

Glasgow Film Theatre: Nov 22nd  http://www.gft.org.uk/content/default.asp

Showroom http://www.showroom.org.uk/inet/visMovieInfo.aspx?MovieName=The+Sky+Below&CinemaID=10001

Nov 24th (Sheffield): School of Oriental and African Studies

Nov 26th (London

AUSTRIA PREMIERE: Dec 2nd (Austria)  http://forumstadtpark.at/index.php?idcatside=273

AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE: Dec http://qag.qld.gov.au/cinematheque