Unedited audio of the Dr. Kim Gandhi filmed interview Interview by: Atiha Chaudry

Interview description by: No description was done by the project for this film audio - description by AIURRRC

Track 1:

Dr Gandhi begins by introducing himself [01:05] He describes his childhood (before Partition) that he experienced as being very normal, that the question of being an Indian or a Pakistani was not a part of his childhood and when a child he did not understand the wider events that were affecting him [02:24] Dr Gandhi then describes his family, his dad worked at Punjab University, they owned their own home and although not rich he had a good childhood [03:07] Dr Gandhi describes his first experiences of the effects of Partition, houses burning, shouting, fighting etc. but without an understanding of the cause [04: 40] Dr Gandhi then recounts a family meeting regarding the decision to leave Lahore with other families that his father knew through the University. They hired a truck to take the 3-4 families from Lahore to Ferozepur, he describes the problems they encountered along the way when the truck kept getting stopped along the route and how later in life he understood the risk associated with the journey [07:34] On reaching Ferozepur the family were housed in a building with a family in each room, some local people began to help by bringing food and clothes, stayed there for 3-4 months in difficult conditions, even in Ferozephur they still experienced the riots and killings, Dr Gandhi describes a continued lack of understanding at the time of why these events were taking place [09:28] General conversation between film maker, interviewer and Dr Gandhi on the progress so far [09:58]

Track 2:

Dr Gandhi describes conditions at the camp at Ferozephur, no washing facilities, a lack of water, a lack of food, poor sanitary conditions that led to an outbreak of Cholera and other diseases [01:58] he describes that there was continued violence near the camp including killings [02:55] the family then move Solan, near Shimla as the University had moved there and all staff were to report to Solan, the family lived in military barracks which had been converted into houses, he lived with his family (8 in total) in two rooms, sharing the barrack with 5 other families, although here their lives we no longer under threat, the conditions were basic with little sanitation, water rationed and make shift kitchens created outdoors, his father returns to work [06:29] Dr Gandhi begins his education, he walked 3-4 miles to school, although difficulties there is a beginning of return to normality, he takes A levels and then went to Ambala to take his intermediate before going to an engineering college, life returning to normal [08:08] General chatter between interviewer and film crew [08:18]

Track 3:

Dr Gandhi recounts two memorable and distressing events from his journey from Lahore to Solan [02:19] Dr Gandhi gives his opinion on what has been achieved as a result of partition, and how he feels about it [05:10] General discussion about further filming [05:26]

Track 4:

General discussion on the interview, topics covered, the filming etc. [01:10] Interviewer and Dr Gandhi continue conversing about the interview and the impact that Dr Gandhi’s story will have, his granddaughter has been undertaking a project on the subject of Partition and included his experiences as part of her school project [02:44] the interviewer asks if Dr Gandhi has any family items from that time like photographs etc., he says no but explains that three years previously he had attended a conference in Lahore and at this time visited his old house in Lahore and other areas in where his family had lived and worked, his wife’s old house where she was born and lived was still there and they were able to see it [07:06] general conversation about the filming while additional shots are taken, the interviewer describes what the exhibition will look like. Dr Gandhi revels he was an actor in one act plays when he was younger during his time with the Indian Association where he was the Social Secretary, Dr Gandhi revels he plays the sitar and describes how he organised events and concerts including a concert by Ravi Shankar in 1974 [11:56] the interviewer asks if there are any photos of family before partition, he responds no but he recounts that there were no cameras and they first had a radio at home when he was 24, and how 50-60 people would come to listen to radio programmes, TV only when he came to Manchester in 1972-1973 a black and white TV, no camera or telephone, discussion on the progress of technology, he was 31 when he first flew in a plane to Ethiopia [14:30] discussion of final filming shots, moving of the camera, general talk about the interview, background noise while additional shots are taken etc. [17:22] thanks given to Dr Gandhi, further conversations lost in noise general sounds of packing up [18:46 End of interview]