This one off programme sees comedienne Sue Perkins visiting the East Indian city of Kolkata, previously known as Calcutta. Here she meets a cross-section of this megacity's fourteen million population. These include the poor such as a family making thousands of disposable clay tea cups every day and homeless families; a member of one of the city's old wealthy families living in a splendid colonial era mansion and the newly moneyed Indians who drive Ferraris and Lamborghinis. She discusses how the city is rapidly changing with new buildings going up all the time to house the increasing population.
Once again Sue Perkins proves to be a good guide as she meets an interesting cross section of this fascinating cities population. I was a bit unsure about her 'post-colonial guilt' as India gained its independence well before she was born of course this could have partly been so that the Indian she was talking to at the time could point out that whatever else happened the British built vital infrastructure then left. There were some surprisingly touching moments; most notably when she spoke to a smiling ten year old girl who lived on the streets but dreamt of becoming a doctor; one can only hope. Overall I enjoyed this; it is just a pity it wasn't more than a single episode.
Once again Sue Perkins proves to be a good guide as she meets an interesting cross section of this fascinating cities population. I was a bit unsure about her 'post-colonial guilt' as India gained its independence well before she was born of course this could have partly been so that the Indian she was talking to at the time could point out that whatever else happened the British built vital infrastructure then left. There were some surprisingly touching moments; most notably when she spoke to a smiling ten year old girl who lived on the streets but dreamt of becoming a doctor; one can only hope. Overall I enjoyed this; it is just a pity it wasn't more than a single episode.
