Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:03,640
I'm in India,
2
00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,200
with a 1913 Bradshaw's handbook
3
00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:09,600
to Indian, Colonial
And Foreign Travel.
4
00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:14,840
Published at the height of the
British Raj,
5
00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:17,240
my 100-year-old guidebook will lead
me
6
00:00:17,240 --> 00:00:19,840
on a spectacular railway adventure
7
00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:24,760
through a land of majestic
mountains and holy rivers...
8
00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:29,400
..where magnificent beasts roam,
and epic stories are told.
9
00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:31,680
I'll encounter maharajahs,
10
00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,320
explore ornate palaces,
11
00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:37,560
witness the technology
of modern India,
12
00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:42,240
and ride some of the most
exhilarating trains in the world.
13
00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:46,760
I'll discover how Imperial railways
and the English language
14
00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:50,720
inadvertently spread ideas of
independence
15
00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:53,680
among hundreds of millions of
Indians,
16
00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:57,960
who today live in the largest
democracy in the world.
17
00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:30,720
I'm in Punjab, meaning
"region of five rivers",
18
00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:34,880
bringing fertility flowing down
from the Himalaya mountains,
19
00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:38,320
making this the breadbasket of
India.
20
00:01:38,320 --> 00:01:41,240
Here is the spiritual home of the
Sikhs.
21
00:01:41,240 --> 00:01:44,160
Although their empire was overthrown
by the British,
22
00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:49,280
by the time of my Bradshaw's guide
they were Britain's loyalest allies.
23
00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:52,320
After independence in 1947,
24
00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:56,520
the Punjab was divided between India
and Pakistan.
25
00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:59,800
And this region bore the brunt
of the casualties
26
00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:01,720
in the chaos that ensued,
27
00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:05,440
including along the line
where I will travel.
28
00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:07,240
I will journey through time,
29
00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:11,400
from the British Raj
to the India of today.
30
00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:24,480
This is the most northerly of my
four journeys in India.
31
00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,640
I'll begin near the border between
India and Pakistan,
32
00:02:27,640 --> 00:02:30,000
in the Golden City of Amritsar.
33
00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:34,240
I'll travel through fertile
farmland to the city of Ludhiana.
34
00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:36,520
I'll continue to Ambala,
35
00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:38,920
a centre for silks and saris,
36
00:02:38,920 --> 00:02:40,640
before stopping in
37
00:02:40,640 --> 00:02:42,360
the surprisingly modern capital
38
00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:44,320
of the Indian state of Punjab,
39
00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:45,840
Chandigarh.
40
00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:48,200
The final leg takes me from Kalka
41
00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:50,520
to the foothills of the Himalayas
42
00:02:50,520 --> 00:02:52,720
and the hill station of Shimla.
43
00:02:55,640 --> 00:02:59,120
On my travels, I learn of the dark
role that trains played
44
00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:00,880
in India's past...
45
00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:03,880
There are hordes of people on the
rampage,
46
00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:08,360
and trains, paradoxically, become
a very easy target.
47
00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:11,720
..visit a curious
Colonial outpost...
48
00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:15,920
Here is one of the world's most
powerful governments,
49
00:03:15,920 --> 00:03:20,280
which has jurisdiction over
a fifth of the human race,
50
00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:24,640
being ruled from this tiny village.
It's bizarre.
51
00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:28,560
..and go on a train journey
of a lifetime.
52
00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:31,720
Chugging through the foothills
of the Himalayas.
53
00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:35,800
Now, this is what I call
a great rail adventure.
54
00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:49,840
My first stop will be Amritsar,
55
00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:53,680
a city which will always be
associated with British infamy
56
00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:57,000
due to an atrocity there in 1919.
57
00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:58,400
My Bradshaw's says
58
00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:01,040
that the principal object of
interest in Amritsar
59
00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:03,240
is the Golden Temple,
60
00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:05,360
"much venerated by all Sikhs,
61
00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:10,480
"who consider it a meritorious act
to contribute to its adornment."
62
00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:14,040
I look forward to exploring
this gentle religion,
63
00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:19,040
which paradoxically has produced
some of the fiercest warrior lions.
64
00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:30,800
I'm now one of
23 million passengers
65
00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:34,680
who use India's vast rail network
every day.
66
00:04:36,280 --> 00:04:40,040
My first experience of an Indian
railway station - it's teeming.
67
00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:46,520
Although not the capital,
68
00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:50,520
Amritsar is one of Punjab's largest
and most important cities.
69
00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:58,240
It was the centre of the powerful
Sikh Empire
70
00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:01,160
during the 18th and 19th centuries.
71
00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:05,240
The old town with its intricately
carved wooden facades
72
00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:07,040
dates back to that period.
73
00:05:11,560 --> 00:05:13,640
But like Bradshaw's travellers,
74
00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,040
most visitors today come here to see
75
00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:19,400
a building made of
more-dazzling material.
76
00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:34,200
The Golden Temple
77
00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:37,080
is at the spiritual heart
of the Sikh faith
78
00:05:37,080 --> 00:05:42,760
and every day welcomes over 100,000
visitors from all over the world.
79
00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:46,560
It's part of a huge gurdwara,
or place of worship,
80
00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:49,720
known to Sikhs as Harmandir Sahib.
81
00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:53,760
With 100,000 pairs of shoes a day
being stored,
82
00:05:53,760 --> 00:05:55,520
I'm hoping I'll see these again.
83
00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:00,520
Thank you. Thank you very much.
84
00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:03,120
As well as removing our shoes,
85
00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:05,280
we must cover heads and wash feet
86
00:06:05,280 --> 00:06:09,880
before entering this spectacular
spiritual complex.
87
00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:47,200
The Bradshaw description is perfect,
even for today.
88
00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:49,640
"The building of white marble is
small,
89
00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:52,640
"the roof is covered with a thin
layer of gold.
90
00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:55,440
"It is placed in the middle of a
large tank.
91
00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:58,400
"A causeway of marble conducts to
the Temple,
92
00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:01,680
"and the marble pavement
borders the lake."
93
00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:06,120
And my first impression is that
despite the size of the place
94
00:07:06,120 --> 00:07:08,400
and the brilliance of the gold,
95
00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:10,800
you are struck by its elegance,
96
00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:15,320
and despite the enormous crowd,
there's a sense of tranquillity.
97
00:07:15,320 --> 00:07:17,000
Magical.
98
00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:31,480
To guide me around this magnificent
place,
99
00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:35,200
I'm meeting a British pilgrim.
100
00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:44,160
Well, I think this is one of the
most beautiful buildings
101
00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:46,960
that I have ever seen.
Tell me about its origins.
102
00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:50,640
Michael, this building was founded
in 1588
103
00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:53,240
by our fifth Guru, Guru Arjan.
104
00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:56,640
He wanted a building
which was accessible to all.
105
00:07:56,640 --> 00:08:00,120
When we go and we see major places
of worship in the world,
106
00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:03,920
they're all grand, majestic,
domineering structures.
107
00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:08,080
And yet here, you see it's lower
than the surrounds.
108
00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:11,560
Every feature of this building
shows humility.
109
00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:15,080
You have to step down to go into the
building,
110
00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:17,560
and even the domes are subdued,
111
00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:20,800
the windows are small,
the building itself is very small.
112
00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:23,320
And I don't want to cause offence,
113
00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:25,400
but Bradshaw says that,
114
00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:27,320
"Sikhs never shave or smoke,
115
00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:30,560
"but indulge in opium
or cherry brandy."
116
00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:34,200
OK, well, Michael, I'm not sure
who Bradshaw met in that day,
117
00:08:34,200 --> 00:08:36,280
but that's not quite true.
118
00:08:36,280 --> 00:08:40,640
Initiated, baptized Sikhs
who are practising,
119
00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:45,080
they will not touch alcohol or
intoxication of any kind whatsoever.
120
00:08:46,480 --> 00:08:50,840
The Sikh religion broke with
Hinduism in the 16th century,
121
00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:54,080
as it rejected its rigid caste
system,
122
00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:57,240
a social hierarchy
determined by birth.
123
00:08:57,240 --> 00:09:01,520
Sikhism embraced the idea
of welcome to all.
124
00:09:01,520 --> 00:09:05,840
And here, they practise what they
preach on an astonishing scale.
125
00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:12,080
This is the world's largest
free kitchen.
126
00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:15,080
Known as a langar,
127
00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:18,320
the free canteen was introduced by
the first Guru
128
00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:21,880
and is offered at every
gurdwara around the world,
129
00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:24,080
but not to such numbers.
130
00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:29,080
Vast quantities of rice and bread,
131
00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:34,160
and enormous vats of vegetarian food
are prepared every day,
132
00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:37,720
so anyone from any religion
can share in the meal.
133
00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:40,960
And it's served to the thousands
of hungry visitors
134
00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:46,080
by a team made up entirely of
volunteers, which I'm going to join.
135
00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:49,680
Hello. Hello.
136
00:09:54,960 --> 00:09:59,920
I've never been in such a crowd in
my life, nor such a colourful crowd.
137
00:09:59,920 --> 00:10:03,440
And all these people, Sikhs and
non-Sikhs, all of them,
138
00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:07,400
maybe 100,000 a day, will
be fed a meal for nothing.
139
00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:08,640
Incredible.
140
00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:22,200
The hall can seat 3,000 people
at a time.
141
00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:28,920
The meal is served with speed...
142
00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:32,200
..and accuracy.
143
00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:41,360
HE SPEAKS LOCAL LANGUAGE
144
00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:54,200
The feeding of the thousands
is spectacular.
145
00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:57,880
And with one sitting over,
serving begins again.
146
00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:04,480
This time, I'll be receiving
my own portion.
147
00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:24,320
Leaving the Golden Temple,
148
00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:28,240
I'm making my way a short distance
to the Jallianwala Bagh.
149
00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:33,280
It's a city park enclosed by
buildings,
150
00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:37,840
where pilgrims and visitors rest
after visiting the Golden Temple.
151
00:11:40,680 --> 00:11:45,200
Nowadays, it's also a memorial to
hundreds of lives lost
152
00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:47,240
in a shocking event that took place
153
00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:50,560
six years after the publication
of my guide
154
00:11:50,560 --> 00:11:55,640
and which marked the beginning of
the end for the British in India.
155
00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:00,920
On the 13th of April, 1919,
156
00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:03,320
Brigadier General Reginald Dyer
157
00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:07,320
was unable to get his armoured car
into the Jallianwala Bagh
158
00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:11,160
because of the narrowness
of the entrances - thank goodness.
159
00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:14,800
But he did march in a troop
of heavily armed soldiers,
160
00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:16,560
with horrible results.
161
00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:28,640
Dyer was sent to regain control of
Amritsar
162
00:12:28,640 --> 00:12:33,040
after outbreaks of political
unrest amongst Indian nationalists
163
00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:35,120
calling for independence.
164
00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:38,960
He banned public meetings,
165
00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:42,600
but the 13th of April
was a religious festival
166
00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:47,520
and many men, women, and children
went to the gardens to celebrate.
167
00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:51,600
Alongside them, many more gathered
in peaceful protest
168
00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:53,320
against the ban.
169
00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:02,360
This large space was filled with
thousands of people.
170
00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:07,040
Dyer lined up his soldiers and
ordered them to fire into the crowd
171
00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:10,600
and to continue firing
for ten minutes.
172
00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:13,440
People running in every direction,
173
00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:15,320
hundreds killed.
174
00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:16,920
thousands wounded.
175
00:13:26,680 --> 00:13:31,520
General Dyer's troops fired until
their ammunition ran out.
176
00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:36,640
He was later ordered to resign
from the Army,
177
00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:41,040
but his actions damaged Anglo-Indian
relations irrevocably
178
00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:44,040
and strengthened the cause
for independence.
179
00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:50,040
The walls of the Jallianwala Bagh
180
00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:51,960
still bear the bullet holes
181
00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:55,200
on a day when hundreds of
people were killed
182
00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:59,200
in relentless firing by British
soldiers, without warning.
183
00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:02,280
Surely one of the most disgraceful
events in the whole history
184
00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:04,000
of the British Empire.
185
00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:15,200
I am leaving Amritsar
186
00:14:15,200 --> 00:14:17,760
and taking the Shatabdi Express
train
187
00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:21,480
eastbound to the city of Ludhiana,
188
00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:23,840
a journey of two hours.
189
00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:43,960
Hello. Hello. My name is Michael.
190
00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:47,280
How do you do? How do you do?
What's his name?
191
00:14:47,280 --> 00:14:48,800
That's Abir. Hello.
192
00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:52,360
Say hi.
Does he travel by train very much?
193
00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:55,120
This is his second trip. He looks
pretty relaxed at the moment.
194
00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:56,840
Yeah, so far, so good.
195
00:14:56,840 --> 00:15:00,000
We were just going to Amritsar,
the Golden Temple.
196
00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:01,560
Now, are you a Sikh?
197
00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:04,400
No. We're not Sikh, but Hindu.
198
00:15:04,400 --> 00:15:07,000
Hindu? Yeah.
But you go to the Golden Temple?
199
00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:11,120
Yes. Even though I think of that
as being the gurdwara... Yeah.
200
00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:12,840
..of the Sikh people.
201
00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:15,920
It's good to learn about different
religions, I think.
202
00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:18,880
That's a very interesting
philosophy. Yeah, yeah.
203
00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:24,080
Chai.
204
00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:32,600
Chai.
205
00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:34,080
Chai, chai.
206
00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:38,840
I didn't even have to pay for it.
207
00:15:38,840 --> 00:15:41,440
Free chai. Yeah, yeah, free.
Yeah, it's free.
208
00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:47,000
Oh, it's so sweet.
209
00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:56,400
Excuse me. I'm enjoying
using the trains in India.
210
00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:58,120
Do you use them a lot?
211
00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,600
I enjoy the trains very much
in India.
212
00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:03,280
But the best thing in the trains
about India is, you know,
213
00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:06,560
you meet friends very easily
in the trains. So I see, so I see.
214
00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:09,680
Like this gentleman, we met him
today, only two hours back. Really?
215
00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:13,320
And we are already sharing
a cup of tea and snacks...
216
00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:16,360
Well, how very, very nice.
And... Oh, thank you!
217
00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:20,640
You have many different classes
and possibilities when you buy
218
00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:24,360
a railway ticket. Tell me
what the options are in India.
219
00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:26,960
Options are, for the poorer people
we have a 2nd class.
220
00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:30,080
And maybe for some, you know,
people, we have AC class
221
00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:33,320
and 1st AC, and maybe
a chair car like this.
222
00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:35,960
We have three or four options.
So AC meaning air conditioning?
223
00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:37,200
Air conditioning, yes.
224
00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:39,560
You don't get people riding on the
roof any more?
225
00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:43,240
I can't say that,
but it has reduced.
226
00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:45,480
But still, it has much,
much improved.
227
00:16:45,480 --> 00:16:48,080
The train timings have improved,
AC coaches have improved,
228
00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:50,160
and now we're talking about even
bullet trains.
229
00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:52,640
Maybe in the next couple of years,
we'll have bullet trains.
230
00:16:52,640 --> 00:16:54,600
That was a dream
but now it's coming true.
231
00:17:16,720 --> 00:17:20,040
It's nightfall
as I arrive in Ludhiana,
232
00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:22,480
so I'll explore this city
in the morning.
233
00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:55,680
Ludhiana is busy.
234
00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:58,840
Full of traffic and noise.
235
00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:01,360
It's Punjab's manufacturing hub
236
00:18:01,360 --> 00:18:04,120
and there is industry
everywhere you look.
237
00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:11,480
It's also long been an important
centre for education.
238
00:18:13,360 --> 00:18:17,880
Ludhiana, says Bradshaw's,
"was once a frontier station
239
00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:21,560
"close to where the first British
victories over the Sikhs
240
00:18:21,560 --> 00:18:25,680
"were gained in 1845 to 1848,
241
00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:29,360
"since that time, gradually deserted
by Europeans,
242
00:18:29,360 --> 00:18:32,920
"though it still remains the field
of extensive work
243
00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:36,200
"by the American Presbyterian
Mission
244
00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:39,800
"and of the Female Education
Society.
245
00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:44,840
"The North India School of Medicine
for Women is also here."
246
00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:49,200
Now, I had no idea that women were
being educated in medicine in India
247
00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:52,520
a century ago,
but this is the address
248
00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:55,160
and so this is the place
to check up on it.
249
00:18:57,120 --> 00:19:01,800
Today, India trains around
50,000 doctors a year
250
00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:05,000
and women make up just over
half that number.
251
00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:11,840
The Women's Medical School
referred to in my Bradshaw's
252
00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:17,240
was set up in 1894 by a British
missionary, Edith Brown,
253
00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:20,760
and today is called the
Christian Medical College.
254
00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:23,840
Hi, Michael.
255
00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:27,000
Dr Thomas? Yeah, yeah, nice to
meet you. Pleasure to see you.
256
00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:34,280
Dr Abraham Thomas
is an eminent microsurgeon
257
00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:37,680
and the director of the college.
258
00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:39,760
Dr Thomas, how was it, then,
259
00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:43,320
that an Indian medical school for
women was founded
260
00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:47,360
all the way back in the 19th
century? It's interesting, you know.
261
00:19:47,360 --> 00:19:52,880
Edith Brown, she saw what was
happening in this part of India,
262
00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:57,600
where the Muslim women
had no access to medical care,
263
00:19:57,600 --> 00:20:01,520
especially the women in the
child-bearing age.
264
00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:04,680
Many of them were having
difficulties because of it.
265
00:20:04,680 --> 00:20:06,880
Those women would have felt a
complete taboo
266
00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:09,560
about being treated by a man?
That's right, that's right.
267
00:20:09,560 --> 00:20:14,080
And she said, "I will start
a medical school for women."
268
00:20:16,120 --> 00:20:19,120
Edith Brown was a qualified doctor
269
00:20:19,120 --> 00:20:23,480
who travelled to India with the
Baptist Missionary Society,
270
00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:26,560
moved by the plight
of the women that she met.
271
00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:28,080
To help to treat their needs,
272
00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:31,520
she set about training female
doctors and midwives.
273
00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:37,120
It was very difficult to convince
girls to take up medical studies.
274
00:20:37,120 --> 00:20:40,640
And over the years, gradually it
became, you know...
275
00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:43,960
It attracted a lot of people from
the work which was done.
276
00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:47,280
And the government was very
supportive for her work.
277
00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:51,800
This became one of the important
medical colleges in the country.
278
00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:59,680
Men were admitted as students
to the college in 1953.
279
00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:04,360
Dr Thomas achieved worldwide acclaim
in 1994
280
00:21:04,360 --> 00:21:09,400
when he performed ground-breaking
surgery on a nine-year-old girl.
281
00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:15,200
She needed a complete face and scalp
replant after catching her pigtails
282
00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:17,400
in a threshing machine.
283
00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:22,120
It was the first operation of its
kind and was a huge success.
284
00:21:22,120 --> 00:21:25,600
The patient, Sandeep Kaur,
is now a nurse,
285
00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:29,320
and works at the college's
teaching hospital.
286
00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:31,040
Hello, Sandeep.
287
00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:33,600
Hello. Hi. I'm Michael.
288
00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:36,160
How long have you been
a qualified nurse?
289
00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:38,560
I finished my nursing in 2009
and since that time
290
00:21:38,560 --> 00:21:40,720
I've been working
in this institution.
291
00:21:40,720 --> 00:21:43,440
And you enjoy the work?
Yeah, of course I enjoy it.
292
00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:45,800
I am happy working here
as a staff nurse.
293
00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:50,160
Now, you yourself made medical
history on one occasion.
294
00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:52,320
I don't think so, but...
295
00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:55,760
Well, was it not the very first face
replant ever to be done?
296
00:21:55,760 --> 00:21:58,360
Yeah, it was the very first.
I think that's medical history.
297
00:21:58,360 --> 00:22:00,680
So, when you're treating patients
like these,
298
00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:03,320
are you thinking back to your
experience as a patient?
299
00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:07,640
Because it is very easy for me
to understand their pain,
300
00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:09,960
because when I'm taking care of
these patients,
301
00:22:09,960 --> 00:22:13,080
I'm thinking of my history
and when I was a patient.
302
00:22:13,080 --> 00:22:15,040
I'm thinking of that time.
303
00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:18,200
I'm sure you make a wonderful nurse.
Thank you.
304
00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:24,920
The college that
Dame Edith Brown founded,
305
00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:28,640
which began with just four students,
now incorporates a hospital,
306
00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:31,800
a dental college
and a college of nursing.
307
00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:39,040
Does the name Edith Brown mean
anything to you?
308
00:22:39,040 --> 00:22:40,640
Yes, quite a lot!
309
00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:44,760
I am a product of this college,
I've studied here, graduation,
310
00:22:44,760 --> 00:22:47,720
post-graduation,
everything here, really.
311
00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:50,520
We respect that name,
we remember that name.
312
00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:52,960
I think she was a very brave woman.
313
00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:55,960
And she did a lot at that point
in time,
314
00:22:55,960 --> 00:22:59,960
when women were not really at the
forefront of most fields,
315
00:22:59,960 --> 00:23:05,000
she took up the cause for providing
care to the women in this area,
316
00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:06,800
and I think she was a great woman.
317
00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:18,560
Punjab is not one of India's
biggest states
318
00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:21,000
but it is one of its most
important.
319
00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:29,800
With fertile soil and an abundance
of water,
320
00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:33,120
82% of all land is used for farming.
321
00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:39,960
I've come to the countryside
surrounding Ludhiana.
322
00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:45,760
"The popular idea," says Bradshaw's,
323
00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:48,440
"is that the staple food of India
is rice.
324
00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:52,600
"But this is only the case
in Bengal and steamy districts.
325
00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:55,720
"The bulk of the people of India
live on millet,
326
00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:58,720
"and wheat is largely grown."
327
00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:01,920
With many more than a billion mouths
to feed,
328
00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:05,760
agriculture in India
has had to come a long way.
329
00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:10,160
And whilst manual labour
is still widespread,
330
00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:12,360
the adoption of modern farming
techniques
331
00:24:12,360 --> 00:24:16,840
has helped to secure Punjab's
title as the granary of India.
332
00:24:16,840 --> 00:24:22,360
This small state produces around a
seventh of all India's food grain.
333
00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:29,800
Much of this wheat goes into
industrial food production
334
00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:32,600
but women in the countryside
still hand-make
335
00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:37,560
one of India's most ubiquitous
foods, the chapati.
336
00:24:37,560 --> 00:24:41,520
The oven is known as a chulha,
and it's very well-insulated,
337
00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:47,040
I suppose, made of clay, but here
it's very hot on the metal pan.
338
00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:50,840
The ladies seem to have no
difficulty just picking the bread up
339
00:24:50,840 --> 00:24:53,600
with their fingers
and flipping it over.
340
00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:56,520
And when you do flip it over
finally, there is a fascinating
341
00:24:56,520 --> 00:25:00,640
moment when it bubbles up. One more
turn,
342
00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:02,240
and then we will...
343
00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:07,560
..hand it over for the addition
of the clarified butter.
344
00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:10,760
And the next one goes in.
345
00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:16,200
Thank you very much. Thank you.
346
00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:23,960
Mm! The bread is absolutely
delicious.
347
00:25:25,240 --> 00:25:27,640
Mm! Fantastic. Lovely.
348
00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:32,560
Wow, that is so fresh,
that's wonderful.
349
00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:34,040
Thank you.
350
00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:45,000
For the next leg of my journey,
I'm leaving Ludhiana
351
00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:49,120
and heading south-eastwards
on the Shan-e-Punjab Express,
352
00:25:49,120 --> 00:25:52,440
a train that runs the important
route that crosses the border
353
00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:55,120
from India into Pakistan.
354
00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:13,000
The view from the window
is glorious,
355
00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:16,200
but this line has been part of some
very dark history.
356
00:26:17,600 --> 00:26:22,040
I'm joined by a
professor of modern history.
357
00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:27,200
This line has a very unfortunate
place in history
358
00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:31,440
and it's known as a place where
a lot of blood was spilt. Why?
359
00:26:31,440 --> 00:26:35,640
In 1947, right after Partition,
this railway line,
360
00:26:35,640 --> 00:26:39,240
this particular route
from Lahore or Peshawar,
361
00:26:39,240 --> 00:26:42,000
Lahore to Delhi and beyond,
362
00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:46,720
became the line on which thousands,
indeed millions of people
363
00:26:46,720 --> 00:26:50,640
moved on to these strains,
imagining that with a train ticket
364
00:26:50,640 --> 00:26:53,560
they were going to get somewhere
safe
365
00:26:53,560 --> 00:26:59,000
and then found that these trains
became just moving sites, in a way,
366
00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:01,320
for terrible tragedies.
367
00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:10,280
In August 1947, after 200 years,
British rule in India ended.
368
00:27:10,280 --> 00:27:12,640
The subcontinent was partitioned
369
00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:17,560
into Hindu-majority India,
and Muslim-majority Pakistan,
370
00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:20,960
which was split into two halves,
East and West.
371
00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:25,360
The new border was hurriedly
and secretly drawn up
372
00:27:25,360 --> 00:27:27,160
by a British lawyer
373
00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:31,480
and revealed two days after
independence came into effect
374
00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:33,720
and the British had withdrawn.
375
00:27:36,600 --> 00:27:39,240
For the masses,
it's the weary trail of the road.
376
00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:42,640
Carrying their few possessions,
they flee from savagery and butchery
377
00:27:42,640 --> 00:27:45,440
that has never been exceeded,
even in India's stormy history.
378
00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:49,800
What followed was one of the
greatest migrations
379
00:27:49,800 --> 00:27:51,400
in human history,
380
00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:54,600
as Hindus and Sikhs fled to India,
381
00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:58,800
and Muslims in the opposite
direction to Pakistan.
382
00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:03,040
And this exodus was accompanied
by brutal violence.
383
00:28:10,440 --> 00:28:14,920
Some people take to the trains,
believing they can escape to safety.
384
00:28:14,920 --> 00:28:17,760
Well, isn't that the real irony
of it all?
385
00:28:17,760 --> 00:28:21,320
Railway is a state enterprise,
so when you get onto a train
386
00:28:21,320 --> 00:28:24,960
you believe that ticket is going to
get you to where it's supposed to
get you.
387
00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:27,920
But rather than that, it becomes...
388
00:28:27,920 --> 00:28:31,760
They become most vulnerable because
there are hordes of people
389
00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:34,800
on the rampage, and trains,
paradoxically,
390
00:28:34,800 --> 00:28:40,040
become a very easy target
for people to loot and murder,
391
00:28:40,040 --> 00:28:43,640
and women being abducted and raped.
I mean, one could go on.
392
00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:47,680
I remember seeing, as a child,
and being very shocked, in a movie,
393
00:28:47,680 --> 00:28:50,600
one of these train massacres.
394
00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:54,280
Do they loom very large
in the Indian imagination?
395
00:28:54,280 --> 00:28:56,040
I think you put that very well.
396
00:28:56,040 --> 00:28:58,720
Every big event of this kind,
397
00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:02,440
whether it's the Holocaust
or genocide or whatever,
398
00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:06,240
there is always an iconic image
which gets associated with it.
399
00:29:06,240 --> 00:29:09,040
And very clearly with the Indian
Partition,
400
00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:13,000
it is the image of the moving
trains, loaded with corpses.
401
00:29:14,040 --> 00:29:17,800
There are no reliable numbers
of how many people were killed
402
00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:20,440
in the months following Partition
403
00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:25,240
but estimates range from a few
hundred thousand to two million
dead,
404
00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:28,080
and more than ten million displaced.
405
00:29:32,160 --> 00:29:34,320
What was the role of the Indian
government,
406
00:29:34,320 --> 00:29:36,880
the Pakistani government
and the British Empire?
407
00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:38,960
Well, first of all,
the British government,
408
00:29:38,960 --> 00:29:42,360
their attitude was one of
complete indifference.
409
00:29:42,360 --> 00:29:46,560
In fact, there was a kind of secret
satisfaction, if I can call it that,
410
00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:49,960
that, well, you know,
India's going to pieces,
411
00:29:49,960 --> 00:29:51,360
and this is what...
412
00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:55,360
"We were there to bring unity
and you guys messed it all up."
413
00:29:55,360 --> 00:29:56,920
It was madness.
414
00:29:56,920 --> 00:30:01,080
72 days was announced by Mountbatten
415
00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:04,040
to divide a subcontinent of this
proportion.
416
00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:07,480
I mean, I'm sorry to say, but this
was nothing short of lunacy.
417
00:30:07,480 --> 00:30:10,200
They left without anything in place.
418
00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:12,840
Nothing was properly handed over.
419
00:30:14,960 --> 00:30:19,400
It's clear to me that there is a
sense of incomprehension and
420
00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:21,520
betrayal at Britain's handling of
Partition.
421
00:30:21,520 --> 00:30:25,960
And there is continuing hostility
between India and Pakistan.
422
00:30:25,960 --> 00:30:29,480
Sadly, India's longed-for
independence
423
00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:32,560
began with hatred and recrimination.
424
00:30:46,960 --> 00:30:52,000
I leave the train at
Rajpura Junction outside Ambala,
425
00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:55,520
close to the 19th-century
Baradari Palace,
426
00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:57,680
which is now a heritage hotel.
427
00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:02,400
Good evening.
428
00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:03,720
Thank you very much.
429
00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:28,800
Thank you very much indeed.
430
00:31:37,360 --> 00:31:40,240
I've been joined by a friend
for breakfast.
431
00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:42,320
And it's an Indian breakfast.
432
00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:43,800
It's called aloo curry,
433
00:31:43,800 --> 00:31:46,560
so this is a spicy vegetable soup,
434
00:31:46,560 --> 00:31:48,560
and this is a dough that you dip in
it.
435
00:31:50,560 --> 00:31:55,000
My Bradshaw's tells me that,
"early rising is an essential
custom,
436
00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:57,040
"as it enables the European
437
00:31:57,040 --> 00:32:00,240
"to perambulate in the cool
of the morning."
438
00:32:00,240 --> 00:32:04,040
I intend to perambulate
in the city of Ambala.
439
00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:20,000
I'm taking a rickshaw
into Ambala's busy centre.
440
00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:23,040
It's an important railway and
transport junction
441
00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:26,360
which connects the major cities
of North India.
442
00:32:26,360 --> 00:32:30,800
This strategic location has given
birth to the largest cloth market
443
00:32:30,800 --> 00:32:32,200
in India.
444
00:32:42,160 --> 00:32:44,880
I'm going to do some shopping while
I'm in Ambala
445
00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:48,840
and Bradshaw's has some
very good advice -
446
00:32:48,840 --> 00:32:54,040
"Hawkers are abundant and are always
accompanied by two or three coolies
447
00:32:54,040 --> 00:32:57,640
"who carry their enormous large
packs on their heads.
448
00:32:57,640 --> 00:33:01,040
"It's impossible to transact
business with them
449
00:33:01,040 --> 00:33:05,560
"without much haggling,
to which the European must submit."
450
00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:19,440
There are close to 1,000 wholesale
shops selling silks and saris,
451
00:33:19,440 --> 00:33:21,960
and tailors are everywhere.
452
00:33:32,520 --> 00:33:35,080
India is absolute chaos
453
00:33:35,080 --> 00:33:41,360
but after a while you begin to think
of it as vibrancy, colour and life!
454
00:33:41,360 --> 00:33:43,880
These people really know
how to live.
455
00:33:49,080 --> 00:33:53,320
In a place like this it's hard
to resist the urge to shop.
456
00:33:56,920 --> 00:33:59,920
Hello! Hello, hello, sir, hello.
457
00:33:59,920 --> 00:34:02,640
As you see, I quite like bright
colours. Yeah.
458
00:34:02,640 --> 00:34:04,960
I wondered if I could get maybe...
459
00:34:04,960 --> 00:34:09,240
Kurta? Yes. And the trousers?
Pyjama. And the pyjama.
460
00:34:09,240 --> 00:34:10,960
Yeah, I will show you the colours.
461
00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:13,400
Colours, yes, please. Bright
colours, please. Yes.
462
00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:15,200
Don't bother with the dull ones.
463
00:34:15,200 --> 00:34:17,920
Look at that! That's spectacular.
464
00:34:20,040 --> 00:34:23,240
Maybe a bit brown for me.
What about this colour, sir?
465
00:34:23,240 --> 00:34:27,080
Wow! This is a wonderful colour,
sir. That is amazing.
466
00:34:27,080 --> 00:34:28,760
I will get your measurements.
467
00:34:28,760 --> 00:34:33,640
Please. After that, I will tell you
how much it will cost.
468
00:34:33,640 --> 00:34:37,720
Chest size, sir.
You can breathe easy, sir.
469
00:34:37,720 --> 00:34:39,840
You're not in a gym.
470
00:34:39,840 --> 00:34:42,600
I think there must be a fault with
your tape measure.
471
00:34:45,720 --> 00:34:48,440
Here, most kurta and pyjama
472
00:34:48,440 --> 00:34:51,680
are made to measure
by a team of seamstresses.
473
00:34:51,680 --> 00:34:55,160
And in just a couple of hours,
a tailored outfit is ready.
474
00:34:58,080 --> 00:35:00,720
Oh, Michael! Looks very nice.
475
00:35:00,720 --> 00:35:02,240
Thank you.
476
00:35:02,240 --> 00:35:05,120
Are these the ladies who were
responsible? Yes, yes.
477
00:35:05,120 --> 00:35:06,880
Thank you very much.
478
00:35:06,880 --> 00:35:09,600
They have made your kurta
and pyjama.
479
00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:12,840
What's this? Ooh!
480
00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:15,480
This as well?
481
00:35:17,880 --> 00:35:20,440
I will help you, sir.
Thank you very much.
482
00:35:23,560 --> 00:35:27,200
What do you think?
Does that look nice?
483
00:35:27,200 --> 00:35:29,080
Very nice.
484
00:35:29,080 --> 00:35:30,920
It's so elegant, isn't it?
485
00:35:30,920 --> 00:35:32,520
Very elegant. It's a lovely style.
486
00:35:32,520 --> 00:35:36,240
Now you are looking in full
Indian dress-up.
487
00:35:36,240 --> 00:35:39,640
Thanks to you. Thank you so much.
Thank you.
488
00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:52,240
I'm halfway through my journey
and about to leave Ambala.
489
00:36:07,000 --> 00:36:09,240
My route turns north to the Punjabi
490
00:36:09,240 --> 00:36:11,640
state capital of Chandigarh.
491
00:36:11,640 --> 00:36:13,440
My next stop will be Kalka
492
00:36:13,440 --> 00:36:15,560
and here I'll take my place
493
00:36:15,560 --> 00:36:17,360
on one of the world's most famous
494
00:36:17,360 --> 00:36:18,720
mountain rail routes,
495
00:36:18,720 --> 00:36:20,440
ascending into the Himalayas
496
00:36:20,440 --> 00:36:23,280
to my final destination, Shimla.
497
00:36:37,640 --> 00:36:41,440
My Bradshaw's guide, dated 1913,
tells me that,
498
00:36:41,440 --> 00:36:44,440
"Lahore is the capital
of the Punjab,
499
00:36:44,440 --> 00:36:48,080
"one of the most ancient
and famous cities in India,
500
00:36:48,080 --> 00:36:51,600
"seat of the Lieutenant Governor
and military command."
501
00:36:51,600 --> 00:36:55,120
But nowadays, Lahore is in
Pakistan.
502
00:36:55,120 --> 00:36:59,320
I'm headed for the capital of the
Indian state of Punjab, Chandigarh,
503
00:36:59,320 --> 00:37:01,600
and it's not even
in the state of Punjab
504
00:37:01,600 --> 00:37:04,320
but the neighbouring one of Hariana.
505
00:37:04,320 --> 00:37:07,040
I smell something highly political.
506
00:37:28,880 --> 00:37:30,080
Hello.
507
00:37:30,080 --> 00:37:32,720
Chandigarh is a relatively new city.
508
00:37:32,720 --> 00:37:37,560
It was created in 1950
after independence and Partition.
509
00:37:37,560 --> 00:37:41,520
To get a sense of this modern
capital, I'm taking a taxi
510
00:37:41,520 --> 00:37:44,880
to the administrative centre,
the Capitol Complex,
511
00:37:44,880 --> 00:37:49,720
and I'm already noticing some rather
curious sights, such as roundabouts.
512
00:37:52,080 --> 00:37:56,560
Chandigarh is quite different
from anywhere I've been in India.
513
00:37:56,560 --> 00:37:58,760
It's so clean and tidy.
514
00:37:58,760 --> 00:38:02,640
The traffic is orderly, there are
white lines painted on the roads
515
00:38:02,640 --> 00:38:04,520
and people respect them!
516
00:38:04,520 --> 00:38:07,640
There is greenery
and flowers everywhere.
517
00:38:07,640 --> 00:38:10,360
It's like travelling
to a different planet.
518
00:38:12,520 --> 00:38:15,800
It is extraordinary to find such an
orderly city
519
00:38:15,800 --> 00:38:18,440
in the commotion of India.
520
00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:21,880
Architecturally, it is
overwhelmingly modernist.
521
00:38:21,880 --> 00:38:25,440
I'm meeting an architect,
522
00:38:25,440 --> 00:38:28,400
to find out how this city
came to be.
523
00:38:33,760 --> 00:38:37,760
Why and when was Chandigarh built?
524
00:38:37,760 --> 00:38:41,840
Chandigarh was actually made after
India gained independence,
525
00:38:41,840 --> 00:38:43,880
there was a very traumatic
partition.
526
00:38:43,880 --> 00:38:46,560
The capital of this whole state of
Punjab, which was Lahore,
527
00:38:46,560 --> 00:38:49,200
went into Pakistan, there was
a hunt for a new city,
528
00:38:49,200 --> 00:38:50,800
"How can we make a new capital?"
529
00:38:50,800 --> 00:38:53,920
They tried many cities, "Maybe you
could expand this one or that one."
530
00:38:53,920 --> 00:38:57,280
Ultimately, they came to the
conclusion, "Let's make a new city."
531
00:38:57,280 --> 00:39:00,000
What was intended with the building
of Chandigarh?
532
00:39:00,000 --> 00:39:02,880
Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime
Minister of independent India,
533
00:39:02,880 --> 00:39:06,680
what he wanted to show the world was
that India is no longer a regressive
534
00:39:06,680 --> 00:39:11,800
country of villagers and backward
people. In his own words,
535
00:39:11,800 --> 00:39:13,520
what he said was that Chandigarh
536
00:39:13,520 --> 00:39:17,080
will be a symbol of the nation's
fate in the future.
537
00:39:21,640 --> 00:39:25,680
To design this new city, in keeping
with his bold vision for India,
538
00:39:25,680 --> 00:39:30,960
Nehru hired celebrated Swiss-French
architect Le Corbusier,
539
00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:35,760
famous for designing unique,
private houses, public buildings,
540
00:39:35,760 --> 00:39:38,240
and housing projects.
541
00:39:38,240 --> 00:39:41,760
Le Corbusier had never before been
given the chance
542
00:39:41,760 --> 00:39:44,640
to implement the town planning ideas
543
00:39:44,640 --> 00:39:47,440
that he'd been working on
for 20 years.
544
00:39:47,440 --> 00:39:50,640
What was his philosophy
of town planning?
545
00:39:50,640 --> 00:39:54,120
He broke down the needs of a modern
man into very four, clear,
546
00:39:54,120 --> 00:39:55,800
distinct categories -
547
00:39:55,800 --> 00:39:59,360
living, working, circulation
and care of body and spirit.
548
00:39:59,360 --> 00:40:02,920
So, living basically meant your
sector, which was self-sufficient,
549
00:40:02,920 --> 00:40:05,040
it had all the needs that you had.
550
00:40:05,040 --> 00:40:08,080
Circulation had to be very efficient
because he felt the more efficient
551
00:40:08,080 --> 00:40:11,760
the roads, the more efficient people
will be in their lives.
552
00:40:11,760 --> 00:40:15,320
Working, he had dedicated areas
for offices and markets.
553
00:40:15,320 --> 00:40:17,760
And, of course, care of body
and spirit you see everywhere
554
00:40:17,760 --> 00:40:20,600
in Chandigarh, the greens and the
lakes, and the Leisure Valley.
555
00:40:20,600 --> 00:40:22,960
So, basically, he had a very
clear-cut definition
556
00:40:22,960 --> 00:40:26,320
of what a modern city should be.
OK, a new city.
557
00:40:26,320 --> 00:40:28,640
But there is nothing Indian about
these buildings.
558
00:40:28,640 --> 00:40:31,720
That is where the genius
of Corbusier comes in.
559
00:40:31,720 --> 00:40:33,840
There is no nothing in any building.
560
00:40:33,840 --> 00:40:36,920
You can't say it is British,
it is Colonial, it is Mexican.
561
00:40:36,920 --> 00:40:38,800
It does not belong to any era.
562
00:40:38,800 --> 00:40:41,760
He wanted a very timeless kind of
architecture, which you could not
563
00:40:41,760 --> 00:40:45,880
put into any slot.
It is deliberately not Indian.
564
00:40:49,080 --> 00:40:51,680
The city is internationally
recognised
565
00:40:51,680 --> 00:40:55,240
as a modernist masterpiece, and the
Capitol Complex
566
00:40:55,240 --> 00:40:59,080
has recently been awarded
UNESCO World Heritage status.
567
00:41:01,120 --> 00:41:03,800
One of the sectors that the
architect created
568
00:41:03,800 --> 00:41:07,760
to take care of the body and spirit
of Chandigarh's residents
569
00:41:07,760 --> 00:41:10,120
is Sukhna Lake.
570
00:41:10,120 --> 00:41:14,080
A man-made reservoir at the
foothills of the Himalayas,
571
00:41:14,080 --> 00:41:16,560
it's become a favourite place
to go boating
572
00:41:16,560 --> 00:41:19,840
or to relax with an early
evening walk.
573
00:41:22,840 --> 00:41:26,240
Hello. Hi. Beautiful evening.
574
00:41:26,240 --> 00:41:29,880
Are you from Chandigarh?
Yes, I'm from Chandigarh.
575
00:41:29,880 --> 00:41:32,440
Very interesting. Do you enjoy
living in Chandigarh?
576
00:41:32,440 --> 00:41:34,840
I do. It's amazing.
577
00:41:34,840 --> 00:41:38,240
Why? Because the weather here
is very nice,
578
00:41:38,240 --> 00:41:40,360
and we have a lot of greenery
around here.
579
00:41:40,360 --> 00:41:41,960
I am born and brought up in Delhi,
580
00:41:41,960 --> 00:41:44,480
so as compared to that,
this is amazing.
581
00:41:44,480 --> 00:41:48,400
It strikes me as very different from
everywhere else I've been in India.
582
00:41:48,400 --> 00:41:50,960
Yeah, actually,
it is a planned city.
583
00:41:50,960 --> 00:41:53,720
This is what I have experienced,
being from Delhi.
584
00:41:53,720 --> 00:41:56,240
You don't feel that
it's too planned?
585
00:41:56,240 --> 00:42:00,000
No, I just love it because,
you know, you can breathe.
586
00:42:09,480 --> 00:42:12,400
This park is also the place
of much entertainment,
587
00:42:12,400 --> 00:42:15,560
including traditional Indian dance.
588
00:42:17,720 --> 00:42:21,120
Bhangra is associated with the
farmers of the Punjab.
589
00:42:21,120 --> 00:42:24,040
The choreography reflects
their daily activities,
590
00:42:24,040 --> 00:42:27,040
like sowing seeds and cutting wheat.
591
00:42:30,240 --> 00:42:33,200
I'm struck by its exuberance.
592
00:42:33,200 --> 00:42:36,080
And you know me -
I'm itching to have a go.
593
00:42:48,160 --> 00:42:53,120
And if I'm going to engage
I need to look the part.
594
00:42:53,120 --> 00:42:55,680
Very nice. Thank you, madam.
595
00:42:55,680 --> 00:42:58,560
Well, now you've got me all dressed
up, what is this dance?
596
00:42:58,560 --> 00:43:00,240
This is the dance of Punjab.
597
00:43:00,240 --> 00:43:02,800
We will celebrate
Vaisakhi festival,
598
00:43:02,800 --> 00:43:06,280
we will perform dance
only to feel happy.
599
00:43:06,280 --> 00:43:07,960
What is Vaisakhi?
What does that mean?
600
00:43:07,960 --> 00:43:13,680
That is the festival of Punjab.
There is, like...farmer festival.
601
00:43:13,680 --> 00:43:15,920
Harvest festival? So,
for a traditional dance
602
00:43:15,920 --> 00:43:18,520
you look rather modern to me.
It looked a bit like Bollywood.
603
00:43:18,520 --> 00:43:21,680
So, Bollywood copies our folk dance.
Ah!
604
00:43:21,680 --> 00:43:23,880
So, bhangra is the origin of it all?
605
00:43:23,880 --> 00:43:27,840
Yeah, bhangra. Bhangra. Bhangra.
606
00:43:27,840 --> 00:43:29,400
Let the music begin.
607
00:44:05,960 --> 00:44:07,960
Thank you.
608
00:44:07,960 --> 00:44:11,040
Thank you very much.
609
00:44:11,040 --> 00:44:15,400
Another unforgettable moment
in my dance career.
610
00:44:33,040 --> 00:44:36,880
I'm leaving Chandigarh
on a commuter train.
611
00:44:36,880 --> 00:44:40,520
But my next ride will be
anything but routine.
612
00:44:56,760 --> 00:44:59,040
There's a fresher breeze
blowing now
613
00:44:59,040 --> 00:45:02,560
and that's because I'm within sight
of the Himalayas,
614
00:45:02,560 --> 00:45:05,760
my first view of these
gorgeous mountains.
615
00:45:05,760 --> 00:45:08,680
And this train will take me
to Kalka,
616
00:45:08,680 --> 00:45:11,880
which is the starting point
for a railway journey
617
00:45:11,880 --> 00:45:15,840
that enthusiasts will know to be one
of the most beautiful in India -
618
00:45:15,840 --> 00:45:20,160
indeed, on many people's lists of
the things that have to be done
619
00:45:20,160 --> 00:45:22,280
while you're on this Earth.
620
00:45:35,040 --> 00:45:38,880
The Kalka to Shimla line
opened in 1903,
621
00:45:38,880 --> 00:45:43,240
and today is one of the world's most
celebrated mountain railways.
622
00:45:43,240 --> 00:45:48,560
Its regular services attract both
domestic and international tourists.
623
00:45:48,560 --> 00:45:53,960
INDISTINCT CHATTER IN OWN LANGUAGE
624
00:45:53,960 --> 00:45:57,520
So, this is the train that's going
to take me up to Shimla.
625
00:45:57,520 --> 00:46:01,960
Narrow gauge and, at first sight,
it seems almost like a toy railway.
626
00:46:01,960 --> 00:46:03,920
These carriages are kind of cute.
627
00:46:03,920 --> 00:46:07,960
But, actually, it must be immensely
powerful because we're going to rise
628
00:46:07,960 --> 00:46:12,000
up to 7,000 feet
over a distance of 60 miles.
629
00:46:13,640 --> 00:46:17,040
I've always wanted to ride
this railway.
630
00:46:23,440 --> 00:46:26,800
And I'm excited to begin
the five-hour trip
631
00:46:26,800 --> 00:46:30,560
up into the highest mountain range
in the world.
632
00:46:39,200 --> 00:46:43,880
Bradshaw's says that, "The railway
has been carried from Kalka
633
00:46:43,880 --> 00:46:48,040
"by a fine piece of mountain
engineering to Shimla."
634
00:46:48,040 --> 00:46:51,280
My guidebook is guilty
of an understatement.
635
00:46:51,280 --> 00:46:54,640
When this railway was completed at
the beginning of the 20th century,
636
00:46:54,640 --> 00:47:02,120
it had 107 tunnels, 864 bridges and
viaducts, and spectacular views.
637
00:47:02,120 --> 00:47:04,120
It was - and remains -
638
00:47:04,120 --> 00:47:07,720
one of the great achievements
of the railway age.
639
00:47:12,760 --> 00:47:15,680
These feats of engineering have put
this railway
640
00:47:15,680 --> 00:47:17,960
on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
641
00:47:22,680 --> 00:47:26,440
At 2'6",
it's a narrow gauge railway,
642
00:47:26,440 --> 00:47:30,040
its lightweight vehicles able to
navigate the winding route
643
00:47:30,040 --> 00:47:32,360
up and down the mountain.
644
00:47:43,480 --> 00:47:45,920
May I ask you, are you travelling
for the first time
645
00:47:45,920 --> 00:47:48,920
on this wonderful train? Yes,
first time. And are you enjoying it?
646
00:47:48,920 --> 00:47:50,560
Yes, very enjoying.
647
00:47:50,560 --> 00:47:52,440
Definitely, yes. We are enjoying it.
648
00:47:52,440 --> 00:47:55,200
I think it is a very hilly area.
649
00:47:55,200 --> 00:47:58,200
And the weather is very cold.
650
00:47:58,200 --> 00:48:01,560
You're expecting quite cold weather,
I see.
651
00:48:01,560 --> 00:48:04,800
You've got me quite worried because
I haven't brought a coat like that.
652
00:48:04,800 --> 00:48:06,600
Do you think I'll be OK?
653
00:48:11,840 --> 00:48:14,440
Oh, that's beautiful, look at that.
654
00:48:20,920 --> 00:48:25,880
As the train ascends for 60 miles,
the air cools.
655
00:48:25,880 --> 00:48:27,360
In summer, temperatures below
656
00:48:27,360 --> 00:48:30,440
can be a sweltering 43 degrees,
657
00:48:30,440 --> 00:48:33,840
while up the mountain
they average 28.
658
00:48:33,840 --> 00:48:36,920
Like most long-haul
Indian train journeys,
659
00:48:36,920 --> 00:48:41,160
there is much camaraderie and
spontaneous entertainment.
660
00:48:59,120 --> 00:49:02,440
Chugging through the foothills
of the Himalayas.
661
00:49:02,440 --> 00:49:06,400
Now, this is what I call
a great rail adventure.
662
00:49:12,720 --> 00:49:15,760
With no-one telling you
to keep the doors closed,
663
00:49:15,760 --> 00:49:19,320
passengers are rewarded
with gorgeous views.
664
00:49:30,000 --> 00:49:33,120
If you're wondering why
such a great train service
665
00:49:33,120 --> 00:49:37,080
was built into these mountains,
then Bradshaw's has the answer.
666
00:49:38,080 --> 00:49:40,440
"Shimla," my guidebook tells me,
667
00:49:40,440 --> 00:49:43,720
"is the residence of the Viceroy
and the Commander in Chief
668
00:49:43,720 --> 00:49:48,000
"between April and October, called
the summer capital of India,
669
00:49:48,000 --> 00:49:50,280
"on a ridge near the Sutlej River,
670
00:49:50,280 --> 00:49:54,880
"7,000 feet above the sea,
in sight of the Himalayas."
671
00:49:54,880 --> 00:49:57,880
I like to think of the British Raj
in the late spring,
672
00:49:57,880 --> 00:50:02,160
loading up the trains with
typewriters and filing cabinets,
673
00:50:02,160 --> 00:50:07,840
embossed Imperial paper, rubber
stamps and ink pads, and then,
674
00:50:07,840 --> 00:50:11,920
in October, bringing it all
back down again.
675
00:50:34,160 --> 00:50:37,920
The stop at the end of this
spectacular line was,
676
00:50:37,920 --> 00:50:42,600
for over 80 years, the place to
which India's British administration
677
00:50:42,600 --> 00:50:44,360
decamped for the summer.
678
00:50:48,360 --> 00:50:51,120
And I'll be excited to explore it
tomorrow.
679
00:51:08,440 --> 00:51:11,320
This morning, I'm exploring Shimla,
680
00:51:11,320 --> 00:51:13,200
a curious Himalayan town.
681
00:51:17,920 --> 00:51:21,160
While some areas feel
typically Indian,
682
00:51:21,160 --> 00:51:24,760
the historic centre
resembles a corner of England.
683
00:51:24,760 --> 00:51:27,160
Tibet may be on the horizon
684
00:51:27,160 --> 00:51:31,160
but the architecture
is distinctly Home Counties.
685
00:51:35,360 --> 00:51:40,120
At its heart is the Viceregal Lodge
built in 1888,
686
00:51:40,120 --> 00:51:44,240
which served as the seat of power
for several months each year.
687
00:51:44,240 --> 00:51:46,120
Towards the end of British rule,
688
00:51:46,120 --> 00:51:51,000
this was also where Indian leaders
met Viceroy Lord Louis Mountbatten
689
00:51:51,000 --> 00:51:55,240
to discuss the partition
that would follow independence.
690
00:51:55,240 --> 00:51:59,360
I'm meeting a historian
and Shimla resident.
691
00:52:00,800 --> 00:52:03,200
My Bradshaw's says,
692
00:52:03,200 --> 00:52:07,280
"Shimla is often regarded as the
doyen of the hill stations.
693
00:52:07,280 --> 00:52:11,040
"Indeed, for some six months of the
year, Shimla, and not Delhi,
694
00:52:11,040 --> 00:52:14,440
"is the political capital
of the Indian Empire."
695
00:52:14,440 --> 00:52:17,120
What was that Empire? That Empire,
696
00:52:17,120 --> 00:52:22,040
if one was to look at it in terms
of area, was all of today's India,
697
00:52:22,040 --> 00:52:25,040
Pakistan, Bangladesh and Burma.
698
00:52:25,040 --> 00:52:27,000
Today's UAE,
699
00:52:27,000 --> 00:52:33,240
even Sri Lanka, and Singapore, were
all governed from this little town.
700
00:52:33,240 --> 00:52:35,640
How extraordinary.
Absolutely extraordinary.
701
00:52:35,640 --> 00:52:38,920
And when you mention six months,
it's more like eight months.
702
00:52:38,920 --> 00:52:42,520
Here is one of the world's most
powerful governments,
703
00:52:42,520 --> 00:52:47,000
which has jurisdiction
over a fifth of the human race,
704
00:52:47,000 --> 00:52:51,160
being ruled from this tiny village
up on a hilltop,
705
00:52:51,160 --> 00:52:54,720
connected to the rest of the world,
at least in the early years,
706
00:52:54,720 --> 00:52:58,080
by one narrow mountain path.
It's bizarre.
707
00:52:58,080 --> 00:53:01,640
What sort of paraphernalia of
government had to be moved
708
00:53:01,640 --> 00:53:04,800
from the winter to the summer
capital and back again?
709
00:53:04,800 --> 00:53:07,000
It was almost like
a city on the move.
710
00:53:07,000 --> 00:53:09,680
The time when Kolkata was the
capital and Shimla
711
00:53:09,680 --> 00:53:14,200
the summer capital, here is
this distance of 1,200 miles.
712
00:53:14,200 --> 00:53:18,240
We are talking about a point of time
of no roads, no railways,
713
00:53:18,240 --> 00:53:21,360
people moved in these almost
mind-boggling combinations
714
00:53:21,360 --> 00:53:23,440
of elephant-back, horseback,
715
00:53:23,440 --> 00:53:27,440
on these flat-bottomed boats,
up the River Ganges,
716
00:53:27,440 --> 00:53:29,920
and from the foothills, even
piggyback
717
00:53:29,920 --> 00:53:31,520
because they were carried up
718
00:53:31,520 --> 00:53:33,120
often enough on palanquins.
719
00:53:33,120 --> 00:53:36,840
For example, the Viceroy Lord
Northbrook, when he came to Shimla,
720
00:53:36,840 --> 00:53:42,760
it's about 500 men were employed
simply to move his kitchen utensils
721
00:53:42,760 --> 00:53:45,360
between point A and point B.
722
00:53:45,360 --> 00:53:47,720
What was the impact of the railways?
723
00:53:47,720 --> 00:53:51,520
It killed the old bullock train
which existed,
724
00:53:51,520 --> 00:53:53,800
which was a convoy of bullock carts
725
00:53:53,800 --> 00:53:56,320
which just moved 24 hours
up the hill,
726
00:53:56,320 --> 00:53:59,880
carrying things as diverse
as cases of champagne,
727
00:53:59,880 --> 00:54:01,720
to stone to make this building.
728
00:54:01,720 --> 00:54:07,480
Interestingly enough, almost all the
great, grand buildings of this town
729
00:54:07,480 --> 00:54:11,200
were built before the railway came
into Shimla. The sheer scale
730
00:54:11,200 --> 00:54:14,400
of things and the sheer logistics
that went into it
731
00:54:14,400 --> 00:54:16,320
are quite remarkable.
732
00:54:21,800 --> 00:54:26,920
Throughout its more than 75 years
as India's summer capital,
733
00:54:26,920 --> 00:54:30,320
Shimla's society
was a whirl of picnics,
734
00:54:30,320 --> 00:54:33,200
amateur dramatics
and cricket tournaments,
735
00:54:33,200 --> 00:54:36,040
with the social scene
centring on the Mall.
736
00:54:39,960 --> 00:54:42,280
How did the British Raj conduct
itself here
737
00:54:42,280 --> 00:54:44,040
on the ridge and on the Mall?
738
00:54:44,040 --> 00:54:47,880
For one, the early mornings, they
would have had the nursemaids,
739
00:54:47,880 --> 00:54:50,440
coming out with the children
in their prams,
740
00:54:50,440 --> 00:54:52,400
airing the children for the day.
741
00:54:52,400 --> 00:54:54,880
Mid-morning would have had the
single ladies
742
00:54:54,880 --> 00:54:56,480
coming up for their shopping.
743
00:54:56,480 --> 00:55:02,160
This is where everybody came
to show off, to see and be seen.
744
00:55:02,160 --> 00:55:05,480
Shimla, despite it having been such
a tiny, little place,
745
00:55:05,480 --> 00:55:08,760
ended up having a very cosmopolitan
atmosphere.
746
00:55:10,520 --> 00:55:13,280
Isolated from the rest
of Indian society,
747
00:55:13,280 --> 00:55:17,720
the elite relaxed
and enjoyed themselves,
748
00:55:17,720 --> 00:55:20,680
and the town gained
a rather racy reputation.
749
00:55:20,680 --> 00:55:24,320
As we come into the closing years
of the 19th century,
750
00:55:24,320 --> 00:55:28,040
the town somewhat does start
getting steamier and steamier.
751
00:55:28,040 --> 00:55:31,240
You have the...
the fishing fleet coming in.
752
00:55:31,240 --> 00:55:35,000
These young girls coming in to
India in search of husbands.
753
00:55:35,000 --> 00:55:38,880
The ones who went back without an
engagement ring or a wedding band
754
00:55:38,880 --> 00:55:41,640
were the ones who were termed
as "returned empties".
755
00:55:41,640 --> 00:55:43,480
And, then, more interestingly,
756
00:55:43,480 --> 00:55:48,080
what you have is
the somewhat older widows,
757
00:55:48,080 --> 00:55:51,760
middle-aged women who came up,
generally, to have a good time,
758
00:55:51,760 --> 00:55:55,520
more than just mild flirtations
and, of course, as we know,
759
00:55:55,520 --> 00:55:59,600
Kipling wrote an enormous amount
about these women.
760
00:55:59,600 --> 00:56:03,160
Born in India in 1865,
761
00:56:03,160 --> 00:56:07,400
writer and poet Rudyard Kipling
spent several summers in Shimla
762
00:56:07,400 --> 00:56:10,800
as a journalist for the
Civil And Military Gazette,
763
00:56:10,800 --> 00:56:14,040
covering the social season.
During this time,
764
00:56:14,040 --> 00:56:18,120
he garnered plenty of material
for his novels and poems.
765
00:56:19,320 --> 00:56:23,520
We have this point where...
this middle-aged lady
766
00:56:23,520 --> 00:56:27,920
who draws all the young men to her
side and the young teenagers
767
00:56:27,920 --> 00:56:32,040
are rather jealous of it.
And the last line of that poem goes,
768
00:56:32,040 --> 00:56:34,280
"They walk beside Her
'rickshaw-wheels
769
00:56:34,280 --> 00:56:35,960
"None walk beside mine
770
00:56:35,960 --> 00:56:37,840
"And that is because I'm Seventeen
771
00:56:37,840 --> 00:56:39,000
"And She is Forty-nine."
772
00:56:40,080 --> 00:56:44,000
And what was the particular
attraction of the older women?
773
00:56:44,000 --> 00:56:47,720
The safety that she has, and the
experience that went with it.
774
00:56:47,720 --> 00:56:49,520
THEY LAUGH
775
00:56:58,160 --> 00:57:02,920
The British lived an idyllic life
during the Raj here in Shimla,
776
00:57:02,920 --> 00:57:05,640
drinking tea, playing croquet
777
00:57:05,640 --> 00:57:10,440
and falling in love,
attended by squads of servants.
778
00:57:10,440 --> 00:57:14,120
But British India was not
designed for Indians,
779
00:57:14,120 --> 00:57:17,760
and after years of struggle
against British rule,
780
00:57:17,760 --> 00:57:20,320
key negotiations about independence
781
00:57:20,320 --> 00:57:25,920
were held here in the foothills
of the Himalayas. When freedom came,
782
00:57:25,920 --> 00:57:30,240
it was accompanied by Partition
between India and Pakistan
783
00:57:30,240 --> 00:57:34,480
and appalling levels of violence.
And it was perhaps with that in mind
784
00:57:34,480 --> 00:57:39,560
that India's first Prime Minister
Nehru designed Chandigarh
785
00:57:39,560 --> 00:57:43,840
as a new city that would leave
behind the old India
786
00:57:43,840 --> 00:57:47,600
and commit his country to modernity.
787
00:57:56,680 --> 00:58:00,320
Next time, I play the sport of kings
with royalty.
788
00:58:00,320 --> 00:58:02,400
Hit it, hit it. Oh!
789
00:58:02,400 --> 00:58:04,320
It's your timing. My timing, indeed.
790
00:58:04,320 --> 00:58:08,400
I'm moved by India's architecture
of passion.
791
00:58:08,400 --> 00:58:10,720
For the millions of visitors,
792
00:58:10,720 --> 00:58:15,000
the Taj Mahal is the greatest
monument to love in the world.
793
00:58:15,000 --> 00:58:19,600
And relate to some of the country's
most revered animals.
794
00:58:21,240 --> 00:58:23,320
Was it something I said?
107515
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.