A tale of two cities has brought together two international universities in a unique collaboration to explore their common histories. The cities are Baroda in Gujarat, India, and Leicester in England – two cities united by a story of migration.
The University of Leicester hosted a special event and workshop “Migration Stories: South Asian Histories and Cultures” in Leicester on Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 March. The event at the University of Leicester School of Museum Studies and Centre for Urban History was sponsored by the British Council.
This was part of a programme of collaborations between the University of Leicester and Maharaja Sayajirao University Baroda which will lead to the establishment of a Centre for Urban Studies in the Indian university.
Professor Martin Halliwell, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor, International, said: “The theme of this event – South Asian migration and diasporas – is of great significance for understanding the complex and historically evolving relationship between the Indian subcontinent and the wider world.
“We hope that the event – comprising a workshop, screenings and the 100 Stories of Migration exhibition – will pave the way for closer interaction and collaboration between researchers based in both universities and will engage the broader communities in the Midlands and the Gujarat region.
“The event focuses on the complex histories and cultures of South Asian migrants told through screenings, objects and discussion and will therefore speak directly the lived experience of many people living in Leicester and the Midlands. It also includes a keynote address from Dr Anshuman Mondal from Brunel University who is an expert on postcolonial culture, Muslim identities and free speech...”
Professor Sharad Bansal, Director of International Affairs at MSU said: "The MS University of Baroda and the University of Leicester enjoy a very active academic partnership. In a short span of less than two years, scholars from a range of departments at both universities have initiated very fruitful intellectual conversations. MSU Baroda is committed to set up the Centre for Urban Studies in collaboration with the University of Leicester, and the approvals for setting up the Centre are at a very advanced level."
Dr Prashant Kidambi, from the Centre for Urban History and the current International Director for the College of Arts, Humanities and Law at Leicester, said the University and city of Leicester were ideally placed to engage in this project: “Contemporary Leicester is fascinating for the extraordinary diversity of its population. In particular, the city is home to many migrants from South Asia. Their presence has made the city truly multicultural. In that sense, it is an obvious choice to think about the theme of South Asian migration and diasporas within the context of an evolving urban environment.
“The University of Leicester has a rich tradition of engaging with this subject. Its world renowned departments of English, History, Sociology, Museum Studies and Geography – among others – have long engaged with the themes that form the focus of this workshop. This project builds on that expertise and seeks to take it forward in a creative and comparative fashion.
“The project is interesting for its content and the range of participants, bringing together scholars from Leicester and Baroda working on the theme of South Asian migration and diasporas in different disciplines and thereby seeks to foster an interdisciplinary exchange of ideas...”
