My exposure to India
continues. I recently heard Miriam
Margoyles on Chris Evan’s Breakfast Show on Radio 2 talking about the ‘Real
Marigold Hotel’ which is a new Programme on BBC 2.
I love Miriam Margoyles, she is
just so full of life and funny and the programme sounded good so I decided to
watch it. It is technically a ‘reality
TV show’ featuring eight celebrities who go to India to live in a hotel
together and experience life in India, just like the Marigold Hotel movies
featuring Judi Dench.
It is the authentic experience of
eight famous senior citizens as they try out an experimental adventure test to
see if they could set up a better more rewarding retirement in India compared
to what they have in the United Kingdom.
The eight celebrities are:
- · Miriam Margoyles (actress)
- · Wayne Sleep (Dancer)
- · Rosemary Shaegar (Cook)
- · Roy Walker (TV Presenter)
- · Bobby George (Darts Player)
- · Jan Leaming (Newsreader)
- · Sylvester McCoy (Actor)
- · Patti Boulaye (Singer)
An odd bunch and I hadn’t even
heard of them all.
In the first episode they all
meet people who are from the Meena Caste.
This caste was designated a criminal tribe during the British Colonial
rule. Though this was apparently
repealed in 1952, however the caste system is still in existence even if it’s
not too prevalent, but people are still discriminated against.
The Meena tribe do not get many
jobs and the tour guide who shows the celebrities around, who is part of the
tribe only earns £20 a week which is awful.
The people of the tribe are still
seen as criminals, a backward caste, who don’t know anything or how to behave
with people. They are seen as
distrustful people.
Unlike the Dalits (the
untouchables) the Meenas have better rights for women, well compared to other
castes anyway, but it’s still not great.
I found this programme so
interesting, it’s informative and funny due to the personalities of the people
taking part. Though some personalities
come out more than others. I am looking forward
to the next episode.
The programme shows India in such
a good light and my urge to go there is getting stronger.
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