The Rise and Fall of the British Raj

Two hundred years of British rule in India between the mid-18th to mid-20th centuries left its mark as viewers will discover in this travelogue exploring both the architectural record and important touchstones in the long history of colonialism and revolt on the subcontinent. As is often the case in Globe Trekker productions, several quirky yet personable hosts take viewers on a guided tour of regions within the populous nation, with an eye toward India's long pre-independence experiences. The “Raj” referred to in the program's title was a term for British rule, which turned India into a major hub for trade in the vast British empire. The Raj reached its zenith during the reign of Queen Victoria, and while the program centers on remnant sights from those days, there is also some focus on the Mughals, an ancient Asian empire that controlled India in the 16th and 17th centuries, and built—among other grand things—the Taj Mahal. The main story picks up with Victoria sending the East India Company to initiate trade in the 17th century, giving Britain a foothold after which it drove out Portugal and France. Some of the most interesting stories here concern British officials tasked with taking charge of various Indian cities and regions, sometimes at the cost of physical and psychological health. As the narrative begins shifting towards Indian revolt against oppressive rule, the story turns to Mahatma Gandhi in a lengthy chapter about the fight for freedom, taking viewers on a fascinating pilgrimage to ordinary places where crucial events in 20th-century Indian history took place. Recommended. Aud: P. (T. Keogh)