India

Video detailing the work of the Indo-Canadian Friendship Society of BC (ICFSBC). In 1976, Dr. Gill founded the Indo-Canadian Friendship Society of BC. Initially focused on improving community relations in Canada, from the mid-1990s the organization has set its sights on improving living conditions for rural communities in Punjab. Since India's sanitation is recognized as among the worst in the world, the projects have focused on providing clean, running drinking water, and building underground sewage systems and wastewater treatment plants. The result is a marked decrease in disease – especially gastroenteritis, responsible for 400,000 deaths in India annually. Starting with Kharoudi village, where Gill was born, projects were carried out in over 16 communities at a cost of approximately $3M. As well as improved sanitation, they have introduced solar street lighting and computer education in schools. Along with the health benefits, Gill is happy to report improvements in gender equality, education, governance and employment. Gill achieved all this with grassroots support, fending off corruption by insisting on as much transparency in the process as possible and keeping costs low. This video showcases some of his work.

Narrative of Michael Norbury's war years in India and abroad, starting from 1939. The narrative desribes various events from his training days to fighting in the war front. He also expressed his views about Hitler's actions, racism in the British Indian Army and widespread of diseases like malaria, and typhus.

Photograph of an unidentified older man. He is seen standing in front of a low stone wall in what appears to be a garden. Behind him is a large tree and greenery. He is wearing a turban, a long jacket, and is facing the camera.

Photograph of Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit. Pandit is seen seated on a stone wall, wearing a sari and looking forward. The photograph is framed in cardstock and has a handwritten note on the bottom that reads,"Ijaya[sic.] Laskmi[sic.] Pundit[sic.] Jawharlal[sic.] Nehru's sister." The back of the photograph was taped to an old invitation and newspaper.

Photograph of two women and a young child. The two women are seated on chairs and the young child is sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of them. The women are dressed in salwar kameez suits and the boy is wearing a turban. The photograph was taken in a studio setting and is set in a cardstock frame. The back of the framed photograph shows signs of age and written in blue ink it reads, "#27."

Service Certificate for Piara Singh's service as a Fitter Chargeman "B" in the Mechanics Department of Central Railway from 4th March, 1943 to 18th March, 1971, stating that he resigned on his own will.

Item is a register documenting the ships and seamen who shipped out of the Port of Vancouver. Ledger volume 11, Box 11: page 73 consists of information regarding an individual, Khor Jaman[?], from India. He worked as a D. H. on Celtic and his wage was recorded as $65.

A map of the Indian subcontintent denoting political divisions while under British occupation. This map was produced for inclusion in the Imperial Gazetteer Atlas of India.

Correspondence from Kartar Kaur sent to her husband Indar Singh while the two were separated due to Canada's restrictive immigration laws.

Correspondence from Kartar Kaur sent to her husband Indar Singh while the two were separated due to Canada's restrictive immigration laws.