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00:00yeah welcome to India if you think you know this incredible country I urge you
00:05to think again in this series I'm going on a journey the closest I'll ever get
00:10to being in the Hells Angels to explore this ancient vibrant complex and
00:15sometimes bewildering land and to experience how old India is rubbing up
00:20against the new this is a land of staggering contrast 1.4 billion people
00:26extreme poverty spectacular wealth all jostle alongside each other in a full
00:32on riot of colourful chaos from the Taj Mahal the bustling markets the slums and
00:39Bollywood movies to million-pound homes and exotic palaces and why will it be
00:46madness to miss out on all this every step so impressive oh and this
00:55and maybe this so join me as I get a glimpse of traditional and modern India
01:02a journey to feel the pulse of a nation and the people on the verge of something big
01:21so far on my Indian adventure I've delivered lunches across a monsoon soaked Mumbai
01:28okay doesn't get any worse I've marveled at the pink city of Jaipur this astonishing building and
01:37dipped my toe into Mumbai's millionaire housing market and for this final chapter of my Indian
01:46Odyssey I'll be discovering what Indian wine really tastes like I haven't even heard of it
01:52yes have a cocktail at a bar that Churchill used to frequent that's made with orange squash how
02:00hilarious I haven't had that since the 70s but I'm starting back in the city of dreams where I'm
02:06hopping on the city's phenomenal new metro line I'm on my way to see something well rather unexpected
02:15Mumbai is one of the most densely populated cities on earth and its transport network has been groaning
02:22under the strain for years but over the past decade more than four billion dollars have been spent on a
02:28brand new metro designed to make the daily commute a little less hectic well it's very nice lovely wide
02:38carriages but I'm not just commuting I'm actually traveling somewhere I didn't even know existed until
02:44today array forests which is part of this vast 18,000 acre area of old woodland that's part of Mumbai
02:54and we're traveling through what looks like ancient jungle and then the ancients of teetering slums on this
03:02side spread across 1,100 acres are a forest is known as Mumbai's green lung not only does it absorb
03:12a
03:12substantial quantity of the city's pollution it also supports an extraordinary diversity of mammals
03:19reptiles birds and insects step into the forest and the contrast is immediate silence and calm
03:33and still just a stone's throw from the city's noise and chaos near birds singing gentle patter of rain
03:44and then if you listen very very carefully you can hear a Bollywood film studio which is just over
03:51there film city is just right on the edge of this primeval forest so you get this lovely clash of
03:56the
03:57very very very ancient and the very shiny loud and new and incredibly RA forest and the surrounding
04:06National Park have the highest density of leopards to be found anywhere in the world numbers have risen
04:15sharply over the past decade a testament to both conservation success and the species remarkable
04:21ability to live alongside an urban center I'm here to meet Rajesh Sanapuaz are you Rajesh yeah how do you
04:33do I'm
04:33Zander very nice to meet a biologist who was first drawn here to study the elusive cats I mean so
04:39within
04:40urban Mumbai why the why is there such a density of leopards they can eat anything dogs that's easy food
04:46for the
04:46leopards oh really yeah leopards survive on dogs rats goats and sadly sometimes people in this state
04:53alone there are around 20 human fatalities a year but lately Rajesh has turned his focus to something
05:00even scarier so I start with the leopard yeah and then end with spiders so how come we just suddenly
05:07realized leopards are interesting but they're nothing on spite yeah so obviously it's very important to work
05:12on lesser known species like like spiders like because it's equally important so in Mumbai we
05:17have around five to six different species of tarantula like in Mumbai biggest the the tree dwelling spider
05:22like this big like including the legs they generally are canopy dwelling spiders yeah so are you okay with
05:30spiders well that's a very good question Rajesh you kind of learn to pretend to be okay with you have
05:38you're forever having to take them out of children's rooms and it doesn't do if I'm scared we need to
05:43respect the subject that you are working on well indeed that's that's a nice way of putting it maybe
05:47I'm not scared of spiders I just have a very ingrained respect yeah respect Rajesh loves to photograph
05:53these elusive wee beasties and today our quarry is the sinister sounding trapdoor spider so this is a
06:01perfect spot for travel spider yeah so let's see if we find one a master of disguise that lives in
06:07a
06:08burrow sealed with its own hinged hatch I found one have you yes is it in here us try more
06:17no it's not
06:31all they make and this is a door yes I just try to open it yeah well you open there
06:37it is that's the
06:38lids that's the leaf fashioned out of bits of leaf and they're actually holding the door oh they're
06:43holding there yeah so that if any insects come close to the door they get vibrations they'll come out
06:48they'll grab the prey and they'll go inside your sometime we have to use stick you want me to do
06:53the
06:53small stick yeah just do it for a minute and there she is she's coming on she's coming out the
07:01early
07:01monsoon has meant that the trapdoor spiders have retreated deep into their layers here's a shot
07:07Rajesh did earlier it's really fascinating so it really is I'm quite glad she's gone down into the
07:16burrow a little bit scared she was gonna appear I was gonna jump out of my skin do you like
07:21spiders or
07:21not well I mean I think now mm-hmm I I understand spiders maybe if I can persuade myself to
07:28understand spiders I can pretend to to tolerate them it's very important to understand their
07:35behavior to understand their biological rule there is amazing called spiders are called jumping spider
07:41so they have a particular behavior called courtship behavior that's a fascinating area isn't it the
07:47courtship rituals of spiders yeah the male spider so they actually dance to impress females so don't we all
07:55Some of Rajesh's best work I think has been to record the mating dances of the jumping spider
08:07Yes very Ibiza
08:11Coming up I travel south to Bangalore India's fastest-growing city where I nearly get thrown out of a club
08:19Well these shoes would not be allowed right here and cause a humanoid teacher meltdown
08:25Oh Lord oh crikey
08:37My dizzying journey through India has brought me to the city that offers the clearest glimpse of the country's future
08:45Bangalore or Bengaluru as it's officially if rarely known
08:50Once a sleepy colonial outpost it's exploded into a sprawling metropolis alive with ideas energy and innovation
08:58It's now India's fastest-growing city it's hard to imagine the transformation of Bangalore just a generation ago
09:07It was famously quiet green city beloved by pensioners for its cool climate and its gentle pace of life
09:14Now it's a global powerhouse where billions have been made through ambition
09:20Innovation and above all by attracting some of the greatest brains on the planet back to India
09:26But all of this progress has come at a cost
09:28The population of the city has exploded to over 14 million
09:33The roads are choked and the city's fast running out of water
09:46But let's rewind 150 odd years to 1896 when Bangalore was a quiet outpost of the British Raj
09:53And after a long day running the Empire
09:56Officers came here to the Bangalore Club to relax and unwind
10:01Thank you very much
10:02Lovely to be here
10:04Thank you
10:06Now it's the sort of venue where the well-heeled play tennis and meet for lunch
10:12So it's pretty elite here
10:15But they've clearly made an exception for me
10:21Ashwin Shetty is the current president of this 157-year-old institution
10:27Sir Ashwin, when did the club start?
10:30Sir, a group of officers in 1863 got together and started an informal club
10:36It was only formalized in 1868 when the club was established as the Bangalore United Services Club
10:42And these chandeliers, they're beautiful
10:44Yeah
10:44I mean, it's very elegant, very high ceilings
10:47And it has this wonderful calm right in the middle of the madness of Bangalore out there
10:51In Hindi, there's a word called Kaspa, which basically means an oasis
10:54So in the maddening city of Bangalore, this is an oasis right in the middle
10:59And I notice you're wearing a jacket and very smart shoes
11:02I mean, I'm a bit of a scruff comparatively, would I be thrown out if I turned up like this?
11:07Well, these shoes would not be allowed right here
11:09But otherwise you'd look perfect
11:11Quite right too
11:11How long does it take to become a member?
11:14Is there a long waiting list?
11:15There is
11:15Approximately to become a permanent member of the club
11:17You would need somewhere between 18 to 20 years as the waiting PV
11:21Oh, it's like joining the MCC
11:23Probably, probably, sir
11:24What are the criteria for membership?
11:27Well, honestly
11:28The only criteria is that you need to be clubbable
11:32But I suppose in the early British era
11:35It probably meant a gentleman who could hold a drink
11:39Right, yes, I see what you're saying
11:40But now, of course, you have to be affable, social, gracious
11:44And that's good enough
11:47Well, I may not be wearing the right shoes
11:50But now I'm here, I'm dying to try the club's signature cocktail
11:55Something called a ghost
11:57Besides, I've got a juicy bit of history for you
11:59Thank you
12:00Now, between 1896 and 1898
12:04Winston Churchill was stationed in Bangalore
12:07As a young cavalry officer in the British army
12:10And famously, he left an unpaid bar bill
12:14Of 13 rupees here at the Bangalore club
12:17I think it's fair to say
12:19Churchill's feelings on Bangalore were mixed
12:22He delighted in the cool climate
12:24And wrote at length about the colourful flora and fauna
12:27On the social scene, he was rather less complimentary
12:31He wrote to his mother
12:33That Bangalore was a third-rate watering place
12:36I think he particularly felt the lack of stimulating company
12:40And so he threw himself into reading and self-improvement
12:44Perhaps you might say
12:45Laying the foundations for his future career
12:47As both politician and author
12:50Even so, that's no excuse for not paying your bar bill
12:59That's made with orange squash
13:00They haven't had that since the 70s
13:03Do you know what I'm going to do?
13:04I'm going to pay his bill for him
13:06I'm going to settle up right now
13:07What's that?
13:0820 rupees?
13:10Well, that covers interest, I should have thought
13:12I love this
13:15Having seen how the privileged few
13:18Still enjoy some of the luxuries of the British Raj
13:20You only have to step outside
13:22To be reminded that for the vast majority
13:24Wealth is a distant dream
13:28In 2021, the World Bank estimated
13:31That 90% of the population
13:33That's 1.3 billion people
13:36Lived on less than $10 a day
13:39India seems today to stand at a crossroads
13:42A rising global power
13:44Still grappling with entrenched poverty
13:49I mean, the flyover's a pretty good symbol
13:51For modern India, I feel
13:54They've just sort of built them
13:56Over the...
13:57In many cases, over the slums
13:59So you have these sort of super metro systems
14:02You have these new roads
14:04And people fly along
14:05And it's like a sort of superstructure
14:07And one sort of gets the feeling
14:08Of this new India
14:10Sort of being built
14:12Over old India
14:16I'm heading out to see firsthand
14:19The daily struggles faced by those
14:21At the very bottom of the social ladder
14:26India's caste system
14:27Is a millennia-old social hierarchy
14:30That divides people into strict hereditary groups
14:33And traditionally this would determine
14:35What their status was
14:36What their occupation would be
14:38And what their social interactions would be
14:43The system of castes is like a pyramid
14:45At the very top are the Brahmins
14:48Traditionally priests and teachers
14:50Followed by the warrior class
14:52Then the merchants and business people
14:56Finally, at the bottom
14:57And of course the largest in number
14:59Are farmers, workers and labourers
15:06But outside the caste system
15:08There is a huge group of people
15:10Who used to be called the untouchables
15:14Today they're known as the Dalits
15:16There are more than 200 million Dalits in India
15:20That's about one in every seven people
15:23And they do all the dirty work
15:26Those inside the caste system won't do
15:28Although discrimination is officially outlawed
15:31Its effects are still felt deeply
15:34Throughout many aspects of Indian life today
15:39This is one of Bangalore's meat markets
15:42Tucked away behind the aptly named Slaughterhouse Street
15:46Is a small corner where Dalits work
15:48Segregated from the other butchers
15:50Earning less than 10p
15:52For every four goat's heads they prepare
16:00Photographer Asha Thadani
16:01Has spent years building a relationship
16:04With these Dalit men
16:05Who work here day in, day out
16:07In appalling conditions
16:11What's going on here?
16:13What are they doing?
16:14What these guys are doing is that they're burning goat heads
16:18To rid it of the fur
16:19And then the butcher collects it
16:22And slaughters it for the brain
16:24The heads and the hooves are considered taboo
16:28By many cultures
16:29It's so strange
16:31They're preparing the most expensive part of the animal
16:34And it's valued at the highest
16:36And it's being processed by the lowest caste
16:38Wow
16:39It does strike me that this is not only dirty work
16:43It's extremely unhealthy work
16:44Yeah
16:45You know, if you're doing this seven days a week
16:47Yeah, yeah, yeah
16:49In very poorly ventilated
16:50Yeah
16:51You know, I don't know what they're burning here
16:52But that's, uh, it's incredibly hot
16:54When you look at the furnaces
16:56They use the lowest grade of cooking coal
16:59It's like what is used in the railways
17:01It's very, very toxic
17:03And a lot of them die
17:05At the age of 40, 45
17:07Is the average age, yeah
17:09Really?
17:10It strikes me that you cannot leave your caste
17:13Yeah
17:13There's no mobility between the castes
17:15It's not like the class system
17:17So caste is something that you're born into
17:20It's this rigid system of social hierarchy
17:25And ranking that cannot be reversed
17:32The stigma of untouchability
17:34Is one of India's most uncomfortable truths
17:37And still today, few dare to talk about it
17:41Although his family are educated
17:43And have escaped poverty
17:44This Dalit man has never spoken publicly about his background
17:49Now, for the first time, he's agreed to talk
17:52On condition of his remaining anonymous
17:55At what age were you made aware of your Dalit heritage?
18:01You know, back when I was in school
18:04I went to a friend's house
18:06And then his mother offered me tea
18:09And then she asked me who's my surname
18:12See, the surnames give it away
18:14Yeah
18:14The mother's face came down
18:16You know, that's when I first time felt the jolt of it
18:20You can go to their house
18:21But as soon as they identify that you are a Dalit
18:24They'll give you a separate glass of water
18:26A separate plate to eat in
18:28Because they don't want impurity
18:30It's the worst thing
18:31Oh, it's the worst thing imaginable
18:33On anyone, but particularly on a child
18:35It's such a...
18:37I mean, there are so many wonderful parts of Indian culture
18:40But this is one part of it
18:43That I just can't get my head around
18:46I can't...
18:47It's beyond cruel
18:49The stigma of impurity
18:52The cesspool of discrimination
18:54It's really a fight, honestly
18:56There is a lot of discrimination
18:59In terms of the villagers
19:01They kill them
19:02So there are a lot of cases of that
19:04Or they ostracize them
19:06They will not allow you to enter the temple
19:09There will...
19:09There are no human dignity
19:10There is no escape from it
19:12Because that's how the system is
19:14And then the people who are basically privileged and educated
19:18They will also not kind of go against it
19:23Or raise their voice
19:52Because that will upset their own status quo
19:54So what are the options for you?
19:55I mean, do you think maybe...
19:56Do you ever think you might go and live abroad?
19:58No, I don't want to live abroad
19:59I mean, like...
20:00I love this country
20:01I mean, like...
20:02With all its discrimination that I go through
20:04Yeah, I mean...
20:05We'll fight it
20:06Yeah
20:07Future for this country
20:08I think I'm very excited for it
20:11With...
20:11Yeah, with all its problems and all that
20:13I think I'm very hopeful that things will change
20:15And they are changing, to be honest
20:16It's happening in the cities, for sure
20:18Good
20:18The age-old traditions, which are, like, you know, very regressive
20:24That has to be broken
20:25And I think that it...
20:27I feel it will be broken because...
20:29For a survival of a good life, you need that
20:32Absolutely
20:35Thank you so, so much for speaking
20:37I can't believe this is the first time you've spoken about it
20:40But I feel greatly honoured
20:41And thank you for your honesty
20:43Thank you
20:44This is always the first time I think I'm glad I did it
20:49Coming up, I'm pitting my wine-tasting wits against a full-on expert
20:54Wrong
20:55And I meet the scariest teacher on earth
20:58You're going to be in my nightmares, I think
21:08I'm in Bangalore, my last stop in India
21:10And this city is a living, breathing contradiction
21:14Where 25 million pound penthouses tower above overcrowded shacks
21:19Nowhere in India is the gap between rich and poor more stark than in education
21:25At one end you have a state system that is in crisis
21:28Over a million teaching posts unfilled, crumbling classrooms
21:32And falling attendance
21:34At the other end of the spectrum
21:36It's rather a different story
21:40This school in Bangalore, the Indus International
21:44Boasts riding stables, two orchestras, activity rooms, a fitness centre, art, dance and music studios, libraries, expansive playing fields, sprawling
21:54gardens, playgrounds and a swimming pool
22:01Oh yes
22:02And robot teachers
22:05And all this can be yours, or rather your child's, if you have a spare £7,500 a year
22:11There is no greater scientific mystery than the human brain
22:15The big idea is that robots like this can teach literally any subject in any language to anyone
22:23Whilst the human teacher pays more attention to individual students
22:27And they can be adapted to suit all age groups
22:32Vignesh Rao is in charge of producing these animatronic educators
22:36We started five years ago
22:38And we've come now to the seventh generation of our humanoid
22:41And this is where we manufacture all of them
22:43With our tech team
22:44All our software and hardware engineers
22:46Now, obviously this is one of the most elite schools in the country
22:51Are you hoping that this model will then be extended to the rest of India?
22:57Absolutely
22:58And this is
23:00You're going to be in my nightmares, I think
23:03I'm just looking at those eyes
23:05Sorry, no offence, but there we are
23:07Goodness
23:08The future models we are going for will have human-like expressions
23:11So they will smile, they will frown, they will react to your emotions
23:15Wow
23:15And build that emotional connect between the student and the machine
23:18When they're teaching French, they can go
23:21Like this
23:21Absolutely, absolutely
23:24Marvelous
23:24Well, I think it's about time I experienced one of these robo-teachers
23:28In action
23:30Hello everyone
23:32Using chemical neurotransmitters
23:34Dr. Sarajini Rao is the head teacher at the school
23:37And wants me to see first-hand how the Eagle 7 interacts with the students
23:41And how they can interact with it
23:43I will be projecting certain words for you
23:48For example, red or blue
23:51But you must ignore what the word says
23:54And must instead say the colour of the text
24:05I'm confused
24:07I'm not quite seeing the educational breakthrough here
24:10Students, what we did is a psychological test
24:13Where your brain automatically read the words
24:16Instead of focusing on their colours
24:19Movements
24:20I mean, we've all endured monotone teachers
24:23But Eagle here
24:24She takes the biscuit
24:26And it's a very dry one
24:30What a fascinating half hour that has been
24:33I mean, absolutely extraordinary
24:34It may just be that I'm just of a generation that doesn't get this
24:37But I'm slightly scared by this
24:39I feel awful speaking ill of Eagle
24:42While she's sitting blinking at me
24:43She is listening to us
24:46I don't like that Alexander Armstrong character
24:48My card's been marked
24:50It's so far from my experience of education
24:56The humanoid takes away the mundane tasks of a teacher
25:00Yes
25:00And gives the teacher the time to connect with the students
25:05So we turn to the great oracle in the corner
25:08For our factual information
25:11And then we have the sort of softer edged mentoring and help
25:16From the teacher
25:17Absolutely
25:17Yes, I remain a little bit cynical
25:20Just because I believe so much in humanity
25:25And I fear particularly as we sort of get whisked down into a world of AI
25:30The one thing we really have to treasure
25:33Yes, we have to treasure
25:34Very genuine human contact
25:37Watching all this
25:38I've been dying to have a bit of a chat with Eagle myself
25:41Eagle, it seems wrong to be chatting about you in the corner there
25:44Without bringing you into the conversation
25:46When it comes to subjects where it requires a more nuanced approach
25:52And there isn't one clear and simple answer
25:56How will AI approach that?
26:02It appears that there may have been some errors or misinterpretations in your recent inputs
26:11I've encountered this in call centres before
26:13I think we've met
26:14It appears you have a mix of text fragments in your messages
26:20Feel free to provide more context or clarify your questions or comments
26:25So that I can assist you effectively
26:31Oh lord
26:32Oh crikey
26:35Oh dear
26:36Looks like Eagle's had a bit of a meltdown
26:39Quite literally
26:41I mean at least Mr MacLeod would nip out for a smoke
26:47Well it's obviously not quite there yet
26:49A few teething problems
26:51But despite my fuddy-duddy views on education
26:54I think we laugh at the idea of robots teaching in millions of classrooms
26:59In the not-too-distant future
27:00At our peril
27:04Just 30 miles outside Bangalore
27:06On the final leg of my journey across India
27:09I've reached the lush Nandi Hills
27:12Fertile ground for an industry few would expect to find here
27:18Now this is fun
27:19I've come to the Grover Wine Estate
27:21Just outside Bangalore
27:23And the clever people here
27:24Are trying to convert not just India
27:27But the rest of the world
27:28To the delights of Indian wine
27:31In the UK
27:33One in five adults don't drink
27:35In India
27:36It's kind of the opposite
27:38Only around 14% do
27:40The people at Grover Wines
27:42Want to persuade more Indians to drink wine
27:45The potential market is huge
27:47My guide to this exciting new world of Indian wines
27:51Is international wine expert and sommelier
27:53Manuela Le Conte
27:55She's Italian
27:56And knows her stuff
27:58Now I rather love wine
28:00So I'm relishing the challenge
28:02Hi Alex
28:03Welcome to India
28:05Thank you very much
28:05And I heard that you are a wine lover
28:08I am
28:09I do like wine
28:10And I guess that you haven't tried an Indian wine before
28:13Right?
28:14Do you know I haven't
28:14I haven't even heard of Indian wine
28:16Yes
28:16Isn't that a point?
28:17But India is a leading winemaker right now
28:19So I would like you to taste
28:21These two glass of sparkling wine
28:24One is from India
28:26And one is from South Africa
28:28And you want me to guess which is South Africa
28:30And which is Indian
28:31Yes, exactly
28:31I want to focus first on the aroma
28:33On the flavour
28:34And then see
28:39Let's try this one
28:47I'm tempted just because of the comparative climates
28:51To suggest that might be the Indian one
28:53What do we say to that?
28:56I don't know about that
28:57Wrong
28:57I'm sorry
29:03It's a blend of Shiraz
29:05And Morbed
29:06With a little bit of Viognier
29:08That is a white grape variety
29:15I can smell the richness of this bouquet from here
29:19I would have no idea
29:21I'm going to just say which one I prefer
29:23Okay, go for it
29:24I prefer this one
29:25No, you're wrong
29:26No, I've got it completely wrong
29:29Are you finding that Indian people like drinking wine?
29:33So red wine are the most sold wine in India
29:37They like it bold
29:38They like it very defined in terms of, you know, flavour and even colour
29:44So red is considered an auspicious colour here
29:47Excellent
29:48Shall we try another?
29:52It's a Sauvignon Blanc from Marlboro
29:54So cool climate, a lot of bright fruit
29:59So now, Alex, I'm challenging you again
30:02This time we have a Sauvignon Blanc
30:06I think that is a slightly purer one
30:13I think that is yours
30:15Okay
30:16In this case, it's wrong
30:18No, it's wrong
30:18Oh, well
30:19Shall we try another?
30:21So what have you got here?
30:24So we are still into white
30:27India's wine industry is still in its infancy
30:29Producing around 20 million litres a year
30:33Australia, by contrast, bottles over a billion
30:36I think this one is the Indian one
30:38Please say I'm right
30:40No, I've got it completely wrong
30:42I think you need to come again
30:44For some wine tasting here in India
30:46I was anticipating that this was going to be quite easy
30:50Indians drink over 6 billion litres of alcohol a year
30:53But the market for wine is still tiny at only 1% of that
30:57It's growing steadily
30:59And I'm having no problem whatsoever
31:01Enjoying these local vintages
31:03So the left-hand one I think is yours
31:05Round of applause for you
31:07You made it
31:08You made it
31:09I'm delighted to say that
31:10Great, great
31:10Well, I guessed one right
31:12So I might as well tuck in
31:13What have we here?
31:18That's delicious
31:19I know
31:20We have a mission
31:22To turn India into one making country
31:24And we look forward to the future
31:27So do I
31:27I think it's going to be amazing
31:28Thank you very much indeed, Manuel
31:30I've really enjoyed that
31:31Cheers to you
31:33I'm now quite drunk
31:34Coming up
31:35I go sari shopping in downtown Bangalore
31:38The place to buy silk
31:39Yes
31:39Where I stumble upon a band of brothers
31:41And we have two more brothers
31:43This is incredible
31:44So we're on number nine
31:45And get whisked off to meet the whole family
31:47Look how beautiful
31:55It's my last day in Bangalore
31:57And indeed in India
31:58And I'm off to visit the Qatari's silk palace
32:02They've been selling traditional pure silk saris
32:05Here in the Cub and Pate market district of Bangalore
32:08For 70 years
32:10And who knows
32:11I might even find another present
32:13For the lovely Mrs. A
32:14Ah, hello
32:16Thank you very much indeed
32:18I'm Alexander
32:19Now I was told I had to come here
32:21This is the place to buy silk
32:23Yes
32:24I sit to it
32:26Ah, goodness
32:28So what have you got?
32:29Show me your wares
32:59On my Indian travels
33:00This is your shop
33:01Yes, yes, yes
33:02My name is Mukesh
33:03Mukesh
33:03Yeah
33:04And your name is?
33:05My name is Kanak
33:06Kanak
33:07Yes
33:07We are all ten brothers
33:09There are ten brothers?
33:10Ten brothers
33:11All ten brothers
33:12And your number?
33:13Eight
33:13So seven and eight
33:15Eight, yes
33:15So yes, I'm looking for something for my wife
33:17Yeah
33:18Seventy years ago
33:19The Qatari family left Rajasthan for Bangalore
33:22And ever since, silk has been their lifeblood
33:25Very soft, isn't it?
33:27Three generations on
33:29And between them
33:30They run six sari shops
33:32He's also my brother
33:33Oh, he's another brother?
33:34Yeah
33:34What number are you?
33:35I'm the last one, tenth
33:36Oh, you're number ten?
33:38Yeah
33:38He's number four
33:39Number four
33:40Excellent
33:40You're going to have to get your go
33:41And put you in order, I think
33:42You've all been shuffled
33:44They're amazing colours
33:45This is beautiful
33:46I like this
33:47Now, the hologram
33:49That mark there
33:51See, that is how you tell
33:52It's real silk
33:53Apart from this label of authenticity
33:55There is another simple test
33:57To prove it's the genuine article
33:59Someone told me that you have to burn it
34:01And the smell of real silk
34:03Is like the burning, burning hair
34:06There we are
34:10Just smell it
34:14I can confirm
34:15It smells like her
34:18Ah, we have two more brothers
34:19Can I see if I can guess your number?
34:21Please
34:21Number one
34:23Number one
34:23Number one
34:24And number two?
34:25Number three
34:26Oh, wonderful
34:27Welcome
34:28It's lovely to meet you
34:29So what, if I can ask such a vulgar question
34:33What is the price of one of these?
34:36The price is around £28,000
34:37£28,000
34:38£28,000
34:38So that's about
34:40That's about £250, I think
34:42Oh, look
34:44What have we here?
34:47Oh, that's very lovely
34:48This is two grams of gold
34:50Two grams of gold
34:51Silk wedding saris started around £150
34:54But introduce a bit of silver or gold
34:57And prices can soar
34:58Back in 2008
35:00One sold for £50,000
35:02And we have two more brothers
35:03Hang on
35:05This is incredible
35:06So we're on number nine
35:07Nine and six
35:08And number six
35:09One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight
35:11Right
35:11And you're all in the saris business
35:13Yes
35:13Yes
35:13Only saris business
35:15This is extraordinary
35:16What a, what a, what an empire
35:18But there's a whole other lair to the Qatari family
35:21First brother
35:22I'm the first brother's son
35:23Oh, first brother's son
35:24Ah, he's a grandson
35:25That's wonderful
35:27And there's more
35:28There's another grandson
35:30He's another grandson
35:30He's your son
35:31Son of number four
35:32Number four
35:33There we are
35:33There's another grandson as well
35:36And you all work in silk as well
35:38No
35:38Ah, girls
35:39So who are you?
35:41I'm sixth mama's daughter
35:43So daughter of sixth son
35:45Very good
35:46I'm, I'm the daughter of the third son
35:48Daughter of the third son
35:49Excellent
35:50So are you involved in the saris business?
35:52No, no
35:52We would prefer wearing saris
35:54Instead of selling
35:55I see what you mean
35:57Yeah, exactly
35:57You get one out of the box
35:58You go
35:59Actually, this is too good
36:00No, you can't have that
36:01That one's going in my fault
36:03Yeah
36:03So how many are you in total?
36:06Ten brothers
36:07Forty-one
36:08Thirty-eight
36:09Thirty-eight
36:10So when you have parties
36:11It must be massive
36:13Massive
36:13Massive
36:14Should we have a party now?
36:16Yeah
36:19I've only just met these lovely people
36:21And already I'm off
36:22To an impromptu house party
36:25This is just great
36:30I mean, this is very exciting
36:32The closest I'll ever get
36:34To being in the Hell's Angels
36:35Come on
36:36We ride
36:37We ride
36:40It seems the Qatari family
36:42Share an obsession
36:43With electric scooters
36:44They own 20 of these machines
36:46Between them
36:48It's their way of being green
36:49And staying sane
36:50In the atrocious Bangalore traffic
36:53It's the best way to see the city
36:55Not only is it fast
36:57And beautifully ventilated
36:59It's great fun
37:00You know, a little bit of adrenaline
37:02Just to keep things turning
37:11Just ten minutes' scoot
37:13And we're in the suburb of Binnie Pate
37:15Greener, quieter
37:16And with great views across the city
37:19Well, this is very grand
37:20The whole family
37:22Used to live in the busy
37:23Crowded district
37:24Above the sari shops
37:25But a few of them
37:26Have moved out
37:27To a new
37:28More airy
37:29High-rise development
37:31Wow
37:33Look at this
37:34You have beautiful air
37:36Flowing through
37:36It turns out
37:38I've been invited
37:38To meet the whole
37:39Qatari clan
37:40En masse
37:46Oh, look how beautiful
37:49This is wonderful
37:51All this is very flattering
37:53But I've come empty-handed
37:55Not even some flowers
37:56From the garage
37:58Now, one might imagine
37:59This kind of reception
38:00Would feel uncomfortable
38:01Very un-British
38:03But this family
38:04Are all so welcoming
38:05That I'm just running with it
38:06And it feels good
38:08And it looks like
38:10They're sorted for flowers
38:11Lovely
38:12Thank you
38:13Thank you so much
38:14Jai Janindra
38:16I was told
38:18There would be
38:18A few snacks
38:19And refreshments
38:20But this
38:21Feels like a state banquet
38:24Yes
38:26These are all from
38:27Gujarat
38:29Jodhpur
38:29And again
38:30As an hour to come
38:31This is basically
38:32A mixture of
38:33All the states
38:34Mmm
38:36Mmm
38:37Mmm
38:41That's homemade
38:43That's homemade
38:44That's homemade
38:45That's homemade
38:46Have a bite
38:46Then I'll tell you
38:47It's a slightly bit on
38:49The spicier side
38:50Mmm
38:51Mmm
38:52It's delicious
38:53What is that?
38:54Nathan's called
38:55Furodi
38:56Laddu
38:57In simpler words
38:58Laddu
38:59So it's basically
38:59On a sweeter side
39:02Do you know what it tastes like?
39:04Shortbread
39:04Have you ever had
39:04Shortbread before?
39:05Uh, I've
39:06Not yet
39:07Not yet
39:07That's what this tastes like
39:08It's very good
39:09Thank you
39:10Mmm
39:12Mmm
39:13Half a dessert
39:14It's been a joy
39:15To spend time
39:16With this extraordinary family
39:19Youngest
39:19Youngest
39:20You're the youngest
39:20Where generations mix effortlessly
39:23And there's a constant sense
39:24Of warmth and harmony
39:26Do you think there'll be
39:27Any more cousins?
39:28Or are you hoping
39:28You'll be the youngest?
39:30You'll be the youngest
39:31Yeah
39:32You'll keep that title
39:35Excellent
39:36I mean the thing I really love
39:37Is how close-knit
39:39You all are
39:40You all get on
39:41Really, really well
39:42You're so friendly
39:43And you take such pleasure
39:45In each other's company
39:46Yeah
39:47Such warmth and good humour
39:48But what I wonder
39:50Do you make of
39:51Modern India?
39:53You know
39:53Where is India going?
39:55It is developing
39:56It is developing
39:57On a high rate
39:58Also additionally
39:59I feel there are
40:00A lot more youngsters now
40:01Yeah
40:01That are getting into
40:02Different streams
40:03Right
40:04So they want to do
40:05Something out of the box
40:06Some students that actually
40:07Wish to take up business
40:08Right
40:09Some are into music
40:10Some are into a design
40:12Some are into entrepreneurship
40:14Some are into food
40:15So are you optimistic?
40:17Absolutely
40:18Yes
40:18About modern India
40:18100%
40:19Good
40:19Well
40:20I would just love
40:22To thank you all
40:24This is hilarious
40:25I came to buy a sari
40:26And I've made
40:28I've lost count
40:29Of how many friends
40:30But it's really
40:31It's lovely
40:31It's lovely
40:32To meet you all
40:3338 friends to be exact
40:34Yeah
40:34How many?
40:3538 friends
40:36I've made 38 new friends
40:37There we are
40:37Well thank you very very much indeed
40:39Thank you all
40:40What a great treat
40:41It is to meet you
40:42Thank you
40:47Sometimes you meet people
40:48Who have extraordinary drive
40:50Or warmth
40:51Or enthusiasm
40:52And it can give you a real lift
40:53But to meet 38 of them
40:55All at once
40:56Is just extraordinary
40:57What a wonderful family
40:59They're so tightly integrated
41:01With one another
41:02And so extremely loving
41:05It's a wonderful
41:07Modern Indian success story
41:09And with a wonderful view
41:11To the future of India as well
41:13All those young children
41:15With their dreams and ambitions
41:16It's been such a treat
41:18To spend time with them
41:25Whatever I expected
41:26When I arrived in India
41:28Whether it was towering palaces
41:30This astonishing building
41:33Elaborate temples
41:36Teeming cities
41:38I'm striving past you
41:40Incredible food
41:42It's a festival of starch
41:44Immense poverty
41:47Astonishing wealth
41:49370 carats of rose-cut diamond
41:51Well I have indeed experienced
41:54Every drop of all that
41:56And so much more
41:57I'm now quite drunk
41:58The wildlife
41:59Alexander
42:00You have to see this
42:02Oh there
42:04The sheer scale
42:06Of this vast subcontinent
42:08All of it here
42:09In super saturated colour
42:14But more than the astonishing energy
42:16Of a country
42:17On the cusp
42:18Of something exceptional
42:19I've been deeply moved
42:21By the warmth
42:22And humanity
42:23So here are all your family
42:24Of everyone I've met here
42:26I was expecting
42:33And by the extraordinary belief
42:35They carry
42:36Whatever their circumstances
42:39As India's past and present
42:41Wrestle to shape its future
42:43One thing feels certain
42:45This is the Indian century
42:47And somehow
42:48We're all part of it
43:04Keeping boats safe in waters
43:06Dubbed the M25 of the high seas
43:08Rob Bell explores lighthouses
43:10In building the impossible
43:11Brand new tomorrow at 8
43:13And coming up
43:14Can Alex Polizzi prevent an airport B&B
43:17From crash landing
43:17And see their profits soar
43:19The hotel inspector
43:20Is new next
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