Ahir Shah's Seven Blunders of the World

Comedy of the Week

BBC

Comedy

4 • 2.8K Ratings

🗓️ 6 January 2025

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Inspired by an email from his 74 year-old father, comedian Ahir Shah introduces us to the The Seven Blunders of the World.

In 1925, Mahatma Gandhi published an article in the journal Young India, outlining what he called the Seven Social Sins. They were wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, religion without sacrifice, and politics without principle.

One hundred years on, the world is a very different place (this was written on a computer, for crying out loud!). Yet, Ahir reckons Gandhi's century-old list of the great societal blunders still feels relevant today. Could they teach us anything going forward?

Join Ahir (and sometimes his dad, who started this whole thing), as he explores these seven blunders through his trademark combination of philosophical inquiry, political vigour and sweet gags.

Created and Performed by Ahir Shah Additional Material by Glenn Moore Cast: Vikram Shah and Meera Syal Producers: Daisy Knight and Jules Lom An Avalon production for BBC Radio 4

Transcript

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0:00.0	In 2024, we were here for the funny ones.
0:04.8	Hilarious stuff.
0:05.8	With Feel Good podcasts, sidetracked.
0:08.4	Are you kind of like, I'm a DJ?
0:10.4	No.
0:10.7	Were you actually a DJ?
0:12.5	No.
0:12.8	Joanne McNally investigates.
0:14.4	Did they spy on us?
0:15.6	I think you're offering me one version of Furbies.
0:17.7	I think there's a more sinister side to these guys.
0:19.8	And Ellis and John.
0:21.0	That's human. That is it.
0:23.8	Humour. Humour.
0:25.6	The best of 2024 is here. Listen on BBC Sounds.
0:31.6	BBC Sounds. Music, radio, podcasts.
0:35.2	Hello, I'm Ahir Shah. I'm an award-winning stand-up comedian.
0:41.2	Hear that? That's an audience laughing at some of my award-winning stand-up comedy.
0:46.7	I'm also a writer.
0:49.8	Onions. Emodium.
0:53.1	That was just me doing my shopping list, but I do proper writing too. For example,
0:58.8	this is a theatrical monologue I once wrote. Whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer the
	...

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