To this day, 1,000 years on, the palm leaf manuscripts are still helping to further research.
- Malavika Anderson
The answer is India – and Cambridge. Among the many millions of objects held across the University’s eight museums, Botanic Garden, Centre for South Asian Studies, and University Library, are a huge number of wonders related to the world’s largest democracy.
The stories behind some of these singular objects are being told in a series of short films as part of a year-long celebration across the University and city of Cambridge to mark the UK–India Year of Culture 2017.
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of Indian independence in 2017, Cambridge has turned its gaze eastwards with India Unboxed – to highlight the astonishing artworks, artefacts, orchids and scientific instruments that have made their way to Cambridge over the past 800 years.
The films will explore and explain why a tin of Fine Indian and Ceylon Tea was packed for an Antarctic expedition at the turn of the 20th century; how a brass transit instrument was used in the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India; and what a gharial actually is.
Malavika Anderson, Cultural Programmer for the University of Cambridge Museums, said: “The collections of the University of Cambridge Museums include a fascinating variety of objects, specimens, art works, photographs and manuscripts from across South Asia.
“India Unboxed is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate these significant collections - to look closer at the fascinating and often complex stories of identity and connectivity between the UK and the Indian subcontinent. Throughout this year the University of Cambridge Museums will host special exhibitions, events and experiences that invite you to explore India through our collections."
Watch a short film and read the full story
Image: Details from the Perfection of Wisdom manuscript/ Cambridge University Library
For more information about the India Unboxed exhibitions, events, digital interventions, discussions and installations, visit www.india.cam.ac.uk
Reproduced courtesy of the University of Cambridge
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