Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

Incarnations: India in 50 Lives

Documentaries

Factual: History

The history of India told through the lives of 50 phenomenal people.

BBC Radio 4 LW

Incarnations: India in 50 Lives: Incarnations: India in 50 Lives - Omnibus

Incarnations: India in 50 Lives: Incarnations: India in 50 Lives - Omnibus: The Buddha, Mahavira Jain, Kautilya and Ashoka

29/10/2016

The Buddha, Mahavira Jain, Kautilya and Ashoka

Incarnations: India in 50 Lives - Omnibus

BBC Radio 4 - Incarnations: India in 50 Lives, Incarnations: India in 50 Lives - Omnibus, The Buddha, Mahavira Jain, Kautilya and Ashoka

Sunil Khilnani presents audio portraits of figures who have shaped Indian history.

Professor Sunil Khilnani presents the first of four audio portraits of figures who have shaped the arc of Indian history: the Buddha, Mahavira Jain, Kautilya and Ashoka.

An omnibus edition of Professor Sunil Khilnani's audio portraits of figures who have shaped the arc of Indian history over two thousand years. He starts with the Buddha, founder of a way of living with nearly 400 million followers, who turns out to be more interesting than the popular image of a simple figure in the lotus position.

His second subject is Mahavira Jain who was born around the same time and is the inspiration for millions of followers of the Jain religion, which teaches that the way to liberation and bliss is to live a life of harmlessness and renunciation - at its heart is a belief that the entire world, from the ground we tread on to the air we breathe, is filled with life: our duty is to protect this universe of living souls through non-violent action.

People in the West tend to look at India through the prism of religion but that's to ignore contributions made in the field of science, medicine and the world of ideas. Professor Khilnani ends this programme with a portrait of the political strategist known variously as Chanakya or Kautilya and the emperor Ashoka who provided an inspiration for modern day India, set in stone.

Produced by Mark Savage.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

The history of India told through the lives of 50 remarkable individuals

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Incarnations: India in 50 Lives

Incarnations: India in 50 Lives - Omnibus

The Buddha, Mahavira Jain, Kautilya and Ashoka

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4