refugees from the West who stayed East

nickyskye — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 12:35:34 -0800

Hippie Masala [masala is the Hindi word for spice mix] is a documentary which poignantly depicts the lives of a handful of old hippies from different countries, who not only remained in India but also remained in the caricature roles of a small few in those days. These are, in some ways, lost souls stuck in the amber of the 1960's and 70's and this movie offers glimpses into their lives now. SnagFilms also has 510 other excellent documentaries to watch for free online. "In the 1960s and 1970s thousands of hippies journeyed East in the search for enlightenment, free drugs or a ‘pure’ life. Indian peasants assumed that a severe drought in the West was the reason for their migration. India’s holy men saw it, more accurately, as a search for spirituality. Most moved back to their home countries after a few months or years. Some stayed for good. HIPPIE MASALA shows aging flower children who, after fleeing Western civilization, found a new home in India." About the directors, Ulrich Grossenbacher and Damaris Luthi. Robert Geesink is one the Western old timers who stayed in India. He's a Dutch painter and quite accomplished. Here is a short clip from Hippie Masala about his work and life.

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refugees from the West who stayed East