The Craster Family at Jotwara

An elephant ride and a regal garden party in 1930s Rajasthan

The Craster family home movies offer a fascinating portrait of regal Rajasthan in the 1930s as well as a charming snapshot of filmmaker George and daughter Mary at home in Jotwara (Jhotwara). This film shows a garden party for the Viceroy, Lady Willingdon and Princess Alice of Athlone. However, most shots are of Mary - playing with her rabbit, dancing and performing for the camera and taking a ride on Lakshmi, one of the Maharajah’s elephants who often came to the house.

Colonel George Craster had a long and distinguished career in the Indian Army and was first commissioned in 1898. He retired in 1930 and became Chief Staff Officer of Jaipur State from 1931-35 where these films were taken. George’s orderly, Pertab Singh, appears in a number of the films. He had been with George throughout WWI and stayed with him when he was seconded to command the Jaipur State force.