Three years ago, India Centre for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development was set up at the University of Southampton. A research-intensive university, it is a founding member of the Russell Group with 24 of the top UK universities dedicated to maintaining the highest research and teaching standards. The India Centre ‘provides a platform for research leaders to come together with policymakers and business and industry partners to deliver evidence-based solutions and unlock the opportunities for policy change, inclusive economic growth, technology and sustainable development for India’.
The India Centre hopes to play its role in supporting India to achieve its sustainable development goals. As India surpasses China as the world's most populous nation within the next five years, its booming economy underpinned by a sizable youth population could produce significant economic and social impact for both India and the wider world.
Over the past three years, the India Centre had been raring to race ahead with its ambitious agenda. It worked on an interesting lake rejuvenation project in Puducherry in the past year, but beyond that, the pandemic kept its energies under a tight leash. The big moment came with the lifting of restrictions in the UK. India Centre launched a Special India Week from 14-18 March 2022. Working together with the Southampton City Council, Southampton City of Culture 2025, India Business Group and supporting partners, the Centre put together a nice blend of events to celebrate the growing Southampton-India ties.
The series of events was the first of its kind and a landmark in itself. It was also timed perfectly to celebrate three momentous occasions: the 75th anniversary of Indian independence, the 70th anniversary of the University’s royal charter status and 3rd anniversary of the University India Centre.
The India week started off on a high note in London with the participation of FCDO Minister, Lord Tariq Ahmad, who highlighted the enormous benefits of diversity that have blessed both the UK and India. He underlined the richness of the UK’s cabinet that includes names ranging from Patel, Sunak, Sharma, Javid, Kwarteng Ahmad and more! He promised that the friendship between India and the UK will never be broken.
Sir David Payne, a leading Professor at the University of Southampton and Director of the Zepler Institute for Photonics and Nanoelectronics/ Optoelectronics Research Centre gave a brilliant presentation on the work done by him and his associates. It was easy to see in him the world-class pioneer of technology that he is. His work has had a great impact on telecommunications and laser technology over the last four decades. The vast transmission capacity of today’s internet results directly from the inventions of Sir David and his team in the 1980s.
The evening also showcased Southampton University’s rich scientific repertoire, through a presentation by Dame Wendy Hall, Professor of Computer Science, and an Executive Director of the Web Science Institute at the University. She has taken the lead as one of the first computer scientists to undertake serious research in multimedia and hypermedia and shattered many glass ceilings in the process.
India Week was made special by the participation of Bollywood’s power couple, Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi. Poetry recitals, intellectual discussions about women in films and about India in Urdu poetry, were made uniquely beautiful by the intellect and talent of the well-known couple. Their creative genius was evident in each of their engagements. Their commitment to the University and to the Mijwan Welfare Society was transparent as they generously shared their time and energy just a few days before the premiere of Shabana Azmi’s newest venture, Halo, by Steven Spielberg.
Representing the High Commission of India, Vishwesh Negi, explained that the India-UK Roadmap 2030 adopted during the virtual bilateral summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson, has the potential to usher India-U.K. relations into a golden phase of the partnership. With both leaders committed to guiding the effective implementation of the varied facets of the comprehensive strategic partnership, the fast-tracking of the free trade negotiations between India and the UK. can be seen as a manifestation of a win-win economic engagement, while the establishment of consultation mechanisms in defence and security over the last 10 months augurs well from both bilateral and multilateral perspectives. Though challenges persist and much more remains to be done, both countries remain progressively steadfast on the pathway to building a ‘golden period of relations’.
Universities and research institutions in India and the UK can leverage scientific collaborations and partnerships for advancing research and innovation aimed at addressing critical global sustainability challenges such as clean energy, climate change and disease burden.
As a member of the Board of Patrons of the India Centre and a former High Commissioner of India to the UK, I too underlined the importance of Roadmap 2030 which transcends many challenges and holds the potential to leapfrog bilateral ties to another level. I also highlighted the positive and influential role of the Indian diaspora in serving as a living bridge between the two countries.
Roadmap 2030 has put India-UK relations on an upward trajectory. Southampton University chose an opportune moment to highlight the contribution its research and innovation-based work can make to achieve the lofty bilateral objectives of the two countries.
