Film1: From Gujarat to Bombay

In Gujarat, close to the border with Pakistan lies the ancient port of Mandwi. Here we meet Ibrahim, a builder of the customary vessel of the Indian Ocean, the wooden sailing dhow. In Dwarka, one of Indias seven most holy pilgrim places, we are searching for the Hindou traditions of seafaring. A priest is reading the Mahabharatha for us.
Jyotsna is a textile merchant from the port town Porbandar, the city Mahatma Gandhi is born. With Jyotsna we travel to Ahmedabad, the economic heart of Gujarat. Here she has her boutique: from old fabric she designs modern cloths.
Anwar is a ship owner, who sails between India and the Gulf. He takes us with him on his dhow to Bombay.

Film 2: To the Malabar Coast

To the Malabar coast we sail with Captain Pookoya. In the ancient spice port of Calicut we meet Khunhamed, who knows everything about pepper. He is trading and he has his own spice plantations.
Somewhere in the backwaters of Kerala Minnie has set up a co-operative to weave coir for export. Pius is a priest and historian who is searching for Christian roots.
We travel with him from Musiris, a port where once a Roman temple stood, to the spice belt in the mountains of the West Ghats.
With the niece of the Maharaja of Cochin we learn why international companies use the old harbour as testing ground for new products.

Film3: From the Coromandel Coast to Calcutta

On the Coromandel coast we patrol with the Indian Coast Guard. We visit Jeyapalan, a jeweller who is a member of the famous money-lending caste of the Chettiar. We follow him from the old port of Poompohar to his hometown Madurai.
In the city of 1000 temples, Kancheepuram, we meet a temple architect and Durai Raj, a silk weaver. Finally, on the river Hooghly, a branch of the holy river Ganges, we join captain Sahai, a pilot, who finds his way along the river even in foggy weather. With him we reach Calcutta.
With architect Manish Chakraborty we explore the city, that started as an old British trading post. We find a town that has an image problem – and a promising future.

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