India's Forgotten People (DVD)

Learn about a community time left behind...

From respected forgers of armor and weaponry for Hindu kings in the 16th century to nomadic blacksmiths who barely survive, the history of India's proud but forgotten Gadia Lohar community is told for the first time this documentary. It provides a voice for a community that went from being highly respected to one of the country's most poverty-stricken, selling handmade items from metal scraps and living on the margins of Indian society. UK-born actress, former Miss India UK, and filmmaker Deana Uppal witnessed the lifestyle of the nomadic communities whilst living in India and explores the Gadia Lohars, who rarely mix with others outside their community. She immerses herself, listening and observing how they live, speaking to other Indians about their perceptions of these nomads, and interviewing government officials about how to help. She soon found a community caught between powerful historical origins and an inability to fit into a modern-day society, where technology has overtaken their livelihood but pride and tradition do not allow them to modernize. Looking at the divide between rich and poor in India, this investigative film and tells the true story of the Gadia Lohars for the first time.