Documentary Review of The Story of India: Beginnings and The Power of Ideas

Summary

Michael Wood presents a series of documentaries about India in The Story of India. The series begins with the episode titled Beginnings. This introductory episode briefly explores how people first arrived in India, and some of the languages used in Indian history. Wood begins the first part of his series by stating that it is believed that “the first humans came from a golden egg laid by the king of the gods” (Story). Some of the traditions of the ancient people are still practiced today.For example, Brahmans are taught what to say and how to act during religious rituals which have been handed down orally for thousands of years. It is noted that the ancient chants that have been handed down have “rules and patterns” that is understood to the modern person, but it could be possible that these chants came from “bird song” (Story). Some Indians still also practice inter-marriage which allows a family to pass down genetics.

When it comes to Indian religion, it is commented that it is ever changing. It is changing in the sense that there are thousands of divinities within Indian religion, though one of the popular religions that seems to stay mostly the same is Buddhism.

Wood continues his presentation with the episode titled The Power of Ideas. In this episode, the Buddhist religion is briefly discussed, along with the story of two of India’s influential leaders, Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka. It is believed that the Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was once a prince who renounced his status and traveled to “find the truth” (Story). While sitting under a Bodhi tree, the Buddha had an enlightenment on what the Four Truths were and that “you can become a liberated being” by freeing yourself from desire (Story). Chandragupta Maurya was an Indian king who successfully drove out Alexander the Great’s successors and gained control of modern India. But he renounced his kingdom to seek salvation.

Ashoka (Maurya grandson) started out as a cruel ruler but after his war with Kalinga, he stumbled across “one of the most dangerous ideas in history…non-violence” (Story). Two of his ideas that still exist today include both human and animal rights. Wood concludes The Power of Ideas with Ashoka’s urging for religious tolerance.

Reaction

The documentary series The Story of India, presented by Michael Wood provides an insight of Indian history and culture. One of the interesting things that audiences learned from this presentation is that one of the reasons why some of the ancient cities declined was due to “the change of climate and the environment” caused by the “ramming” of India into Asia (Story). Another thing the audience learned was that Sanskrit is considered to be the “ancestor of all the modern dialects spoken in India.” (Story)

As far as the how the documentary itself was presented, there are wonderful shoots of the Indian landscape and sunrises and sunsets. Wood is clearly interested in the Indian culture, which helps the presentation of this documentary. Though there are periodic film clips to help elaborate on different topics, it felt as if the clips were more used to make sure the film had a certain amount of minutes than to elaborate. The score of The Story of India is relaxing to listen to, and perhaps meant to help emphasize to recurring theme of non-violence that is recurring throughout these two episodes.