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MUMBAI: BBC World Service, the radio arm of BBC Worldwide kicks of its integrated India Rising season of special programming from 3 to 11 February. Starting with a four part documentary series ‘India Rising‘ by George Arney, the season aims to get to the heart of contemporary India with key programmes broadcast from the country‘s political, cultural, economic, religious, cultural and scientific heartland.
The coverage will be informed by the findings of a special GlobeScan Survey about political power, corruption, the caste system, gender roles, religion and society.
Highlights of the season include:
Monday 5 February
India Rising (9.05-9.30am)
Running throughout the week, documentary series India Rising explores the stereotypes about burgeoning India, addressing issues of caste, religion and the role of women. George Arney talks to consumer and retail expert Preeti Reddy about the people and places benefiting from the country‘s rise as a global economic power.
Culture Shock (9.30-10.00am)
The weekly magazine programme that explores new trends looks at the "Bollywoodisation" of Indian media. It examines the way stars can become newscasters on TV news channels purely to promote their films.
Outlook (Monday-Friday, 10.00-11.00am)
Daily human interest magazine programme Outlook gives voice to a wide range of Indian citizens. It will feature the climax of the Young Indian Entrepreneur Of The Year, a high profile event involving more than 1,000 aspiring entrepreneurs. BBC World Service has been tracking the contest from the start.
Health Check (12.30-1.00pm)
Health Check visits India‘s premier health institute, the All India Institute Of Medical Sciences, to report on the state of Indian healthcare.
Tuesday 6 February
India Rising (9.05-9.30am)
In Bihar the pace of growth has been slow and parts of the state have been untouched by development. But, even here, there are signs of hope. George Arney talks to Alka Chaudhary of the Confederation Of Indian Industry who is in charge of the Bihar Development Initiative.
The Word (9.30-10.00am)
The weekly programme that explores books and writing visits the Calcutta Book Fair, one of the world‘s biggest book events.
Digital Planet (12.30-1.00pm)
This weekly technology programme comes from Calcutta. The city is home to an increasing number of software companies, which operate within an intriguing employment climate in the Communist-run state of West Bengal.
Wednesday 7 February
India Rising (9.05-9.30am)
In India, more people have access to a TV than a flush toilet. In the last 15 years there‘s been a huge expansion in the number of TV channels and internet use is soaring. George Arney looks at the impact on Indian identity and culture.
Discovery (12.30-1.00pm)
In the first of a four-part series on the role of science and technology in Indian society, Geoff Watts talks to leading scientists, including the President of India, about science education and what India needs to do to make the biggest possible global impact.
On Screen (9.30-10.00am)
This weekly film magazine programme comes from three different centres of the Indian film industry: Mumbai, home of Bollywood movies; Chennai, base of the massive Tamil film industry; and Kerala, a city with a rich film tradition.
Thursday 8 February
India Rising (9.05-9.30am)
George Arney asks if upheaval and tension is inevitable as India embarks on a path of rapid industrialisation. He talks to Amitabh Behar, Executive Director of the National Centre for Advocacy Studies.
The Beat (9.30-10.00am)
The weekly programme exploring global popular music reflects India‘s contemporary music scene which goes beyond Bollywood and Yogic classical music to embrace rock and pop.
Friday 9 February
Close Up (9.30-10.00am)
Lucy Duran travels across India and discovers the country‘s rich variety of music. She is joined on her journey by Indian sitar player Viram Jasani, who played the tabla drums on Led Zeppelin‘s first album. He is now a director of Asian Music Circuit, the leading promoter of Indian music in the UK.
Science In Action (12.30-1.00pm)
Science In Action comes from The Indian Science Institute in India‘s science capital Bangalore.
Saturday 10 February
Feluda: The Golden Fortress (8.00-9.00pm)
BBC World Drama brings Bollywood stars Rahul Bose and Anupam Kher to the airwaves in Satyajit Ray‘s detective play. Ten-year-old Mukul has started having vivid dreams of what he presumes to be a past life. Here, within sight of a golden fortress, he lived in a house with gold and jewels buried under the floor. A para psychologist takes the boy off to Rajasthan, hoping to retrieve his memories and the hidden treasure. But nefarious scoundrels are also on the boy‘s trail and it‘s a race to see if Feluda and co will get to the boy in time.
The Ticket (7.05-8.00pm)
The weekly arts and culture magazine looks at what‘s hot and happening in India, from theatre and cinema to the revival of Indian classical music.
Sunday 11 February
India - Brother Or Bully? (1.00-2.00pm)
This debate will link commentators in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. To most of the world India is an emerging power, a secular democracy, a nation of one-billion aspirants. But what do its neighbours think?
A dedicated India Rising website, bbcnews.com/india goes live on Monday 22 January 2007.
