Indians at Oxford University

It was with a sense of national pride that we decided to revisit the Oxford University, UK where our Indian leaders & celebrities had studied or were connected to, in some manner. Earlier on an English summer afternoon we had taken an Oxford University Walking Tour to explore the historic University of Oxford- a 900 years old traditional learning centre; whose horizon is lined with Spires, turrets and centuries old stone educational buildings! It holds a layered-past of its own and this Day-trip had offered us a distinctive historic moment, a more immersive enthralling rendezvous to the learning precedent. This experience led us to today’s Day trip to the University and its colleges where the renowned politicians and leaders had received higher education or visited.

Dr Manmohan Singh- Economist to Prime Minister

In the year 1962 the former Indian Prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh acquired a DPhil degree- Doctor of Philosophy in Economics from Nuffield College at the Oxford University. It is an Oxford equivalent of a PhD. He chose his thesis on India’s Export Competitiveness – its trade policies and export performance under the supervision of known economist Ian Little. This was the basis of his notable Book written in 1964.

Before coming to Nuffield College Manmohan Singh already had an undergraduate degree from Cambridge with 1^st class honours in Economics in 1957! He had done his Masters degree from Panjab after that.

Visitor Arvind Chopra at Nuffield College where Indian Prime minister Man mohan Singh acquired a DPhil degree- Doctor of Philosophy in Economics

Standing in the archway I stepped into the time machine to the year 2005 & to witness India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who had returned to his Alma Mater to receive an honorary Doctor of Civil Law degree from the University of Oxford. His address speech began with this being an emotional moment that had revoked several memories of the past spent as a student here!!

Nuffield College & Benefactor Lord Nuffield

From the car park we proceeded to the historic Nuffield College stone building established in the year 1937 and walked upto the elegant College entrance that was built near the notable ruins of the medieval Oxford Castle, on the site of the unused basin of Oxford canal. We entered through an arch with Coat of Arms on it into a small courtyard and caught a view of a large expanse of green lawns through another big arch and the Nuffield College building on its 3 sides around a rectangular pond – a mixed architecture of ‘domestic Cotswold & Mediterranean!  Far away the 150 feet tall Library Tower with a green ‘Fleche’-arrow shaped roof was notable and I remembered reading that it was the first Tower to be built in 200 years in the 1960’s and attracted some interesting criticism too!

The historic Nuffield College stone building established in the year 1937 , Oxford University

I took a memory jog to recall that the Times newspaper had described Lord Nuffield as the ‘greatest benefactor of the Oxford University since the Middle Ages’- after whom this college was named. The founder of the renowned Morris motors Lord Nuffield not only donated the land but also gave 900,000 Pounds to the University for the Set-up! Nuffield is known as the 1^st college to house men and women together.

Lord Nuffield’s House who was a philanthropist and donated not just the land for Nuffield College but also gave 900,000 Pounds to the Oxford Un

Bike Mechanic to Lord Nuffield- a Journey

I recalled our drive to the Nuffield house previously to discover William Morris’s journey from a humble bike-repairer to multi-millionaire Lord Nuffield. He expanded his Morris Motors empire after the World War –II when he produced the Bullnose Morris Oxford that became an ambition for the Middle classes. Before that the cars, since the mid-19^th century, were a status icon of the affluent only!! William Morris was nick-named Britain’s greatest philanthropist industrialist and was conferred the title of Lord Nuffield.

Writer outside Nuffield college donated and named after Britain’s great philanthropist industrialist Lord Nuffield of Morris Motors fame

Cricket & Oxford’s Oldest Balliol College

Soon after we came across famous cricketer late Mansur Ali Pataudi’s Balliol College who also captained the Oxford University Cricket team while studying history economics & politics! His father I A Khan Pataudi also studied here and accomplished prominent cricketing record for Oxford!  The majestic entrance is embellished with a stone Lion Shield on the top and dates to the year 1263 as Balliol College claims to be the oldest college in the Oxford University and in the English speaking world! Additionally, 4 British Prime Ministers are its alumni. Besides, 5 former students and 7 Fellows of Balliol College became Nobel Laureates with Linus Pauling winning 2 Nobel prizes!

A-very-young-Mansur-Ali-Pataudi-from-the-Balliol-college-who-led-the-Oxford-University-team

A-Pataudi-father-of-famous-cricketer-Mansur-Ali-Pataudi-studied-at-Balliol-College-and-was-a-cricketer-too

 Briefly halting to catch a view of beautiful scenic gardens and remarkable buildings I made a mental note to book a visit to its Hall, Chapel and gardens next time and explore further India connections.

Balliol college

Dr Radhakrishnan- Spalding Professorship at Oxford University to the President of India

Soon after we reached the serene vast lawns of the esteemed and wealthiest All Souls College renowned for its marvellous architecture and top-notch Research scholars since the year 1438!! The University was closed for the Summer Break so we found several Photo & Selfie spots around.

Dr S Radhakrishnan held the Chair of Spalding Professorship at the All Souls College- Oxford University

I stepped into the Time machine to watch the ‘to be’ President of India Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan as elected Fellow of All Souls College– an important achievement for an Indian Scholar in British colonial India! He held the Chair of Spalding Professorship for Eastern Religion and Ethics from1936-1952 allowing him to communicate Indian Philosophy to the West!He confronted the Western analysis and established that the Indian Philosophy was worthy of equal academic value! Till today his birthday is celebrated as the Teachers Day all over India!

All Souls College where Dr Radhakrishnan our 2nd President was aProfessor between 1936-52- a great achievement!

Cliff Hanger

We headed for further discoveries towards the Trinity College & Bodleian library (Amitabh Bachan visits), Brasenose College ( print and Television journalist-Vir Sanghvi) that held some Indian association before culminating our visit to Somerville College where former Prime minister Indira Gandhi, Cornelia Sorabji- first women Barrister & Lawyer of India and the Last Princess of  Lahore Catherine Duleep Singh ( grand-daughter of Maharajah Ranjit Singh ) ;had studied at.