Inthisthree-partseriesforBBCOne,SuewillexplorethelivesofthepeoplelivingclosetheriverandthechallengesfacingIndiaasittransformsintoonetheworld'sgreateconomicpowers.TheGangesisthestoryofmodernIndiainonespectacularriver. SuePerkinsfollowsherjourneysuptheMekongandthroughKolkatawithanepictravelseriesdownthelengthoftheGanges,whichisworshippedbyHindusasalivingGoddess.Suewilltravelfromthesacredsourceoftheriver,highintheHimalayas,throughtheindustrialandagriculturalheartlandsoftheGangeticPlainandtheancientcityofVaranasi,tothevastdeltaontheBayofBengal. ShewilljoinpilgrimsseekingtowashcleanthesinsofalifetimeattheGanges'sourceworkalongsidefishermenandfarmersintheSunderbarns,whosharetheirforestswithman-eatingtigersandjoinsomeofthethousandsofyoungwomenleavingruralvillagesandmovingtothecitiestofindworkandfreedom. Suesays:「I'vetravelledthelengthoftheGanges,fromtheoxygen-starvedpeaksoftheHimalayastothevastdeltainWestBengal,meetingahugearrayofcharactersontheway.Expectcowsonbridges,India'sMostEnergeticMonk,andme,inadress.Ican'twaitforyoutoseeit.」
