India is heading to South Kensington for the Science Museum’s latest season, celebrating the global influence of India’s science, culture and thought. Joining ‘Illuminating India’ is Danny Boyle in a Q&A following a special screening of ‘Slum Dog Millionaire’, the ‘Bluebird Tea Company’ hosting tea blending workshops, renowned speaker Sadhguru – named one of India’s 50 most influential people, talks from Indian science, tech and innovation experts and famed Mangalyaan Mars Orbiter Mission, Moumita Dutta. Much of the season is free, however, some events are ticketed.
The Science Museum had earlier in the year celebrated Vasant Panchami and introduced two exhibitions dedicated to the people, culture and skills of India. Running from 21 September 2017 to May 2018, “Illuminating India” will promote the rich culture and history of innovation in India.
The first exhibition is an ambitious and unprecedented survey of photography in India from the emergence of the medium in the 19th century to the present day. The other will highlight the long tradition of scientific thought in India and present India’s extraordinary expertise in observation, calculation and innovation, emphasising the importance of science in India as a way of understanding the world and creating a better society.
The idea was announced by Prime Minister Theresa May and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in November 2016 as the UK premier visited India to open the UKIndia Tech Summit. The Science Museum is the most visited museum in the country by school groups and is uniquely placed to engage the next generation of scientists and engineers in developing a global perspective on science, innovation and future bilateral cooperation. The activities will mark the British Council’s UK/India 2017 season, celebrating the vibrant cultural history of the two countries.
Director of the Science Museum Group, Ian Blatchford, says: “India’s history and culture are built on a rich tradition of scientific thought and innovation. The stories we will be showcasing through this vibrant season not only shaped India but had global significance.”
Matt Hancock, Minister of State for Digital and Culture expands: “India has a rich scientific history that dates back thousands of years, and continues to influence societies across the world. This exhibition will educate new audiences on the exciting story of Indian design and innovation from the ancient past to today. It is a fantastic addition to the UK-India Year of Culture programme that will strengthen the special cultural partnership between our two countries and celebrate the shared ties across science, design and the arts.”
At its heart are two major exhibitions: 5000 Years of Science and Innovation and Photography 1857–2017. Respectively they present a kaleidoscopic history of scientific breakthroughs in India and a unique photographic survey of the country's technological and cultural development that begins at the dawn of photography itself. The varied event season spotlights the diverse scientific and cultural fabric of India and includes film screenings, music and dance performances, conversations with experts and much more.
5000 Years of Science and Innovation
From some of the earliest cities to interplanetary exploration, Indian innovation in science, technology and mathematics has dramatically shaped the world we live in today.
5000 Years of Science and Innovation reveals how the Mughal emperors conserved nature in the 16th century, how 20th-century mathematical genius Srinivasa Ramanujan revolutionised mathematics, and how the Indian Space Research Organisation sent a camera to Mars for less than the cost of the film Gravity. Let us take you on a journey through the remarkable history of Indian innovation and discovery, which has been influencing and changing people's lives for 5000 years.
Shortly after its invention in Britain in 1839, photography arrived in India. It was used by the British as a tool to document and exert power over the people, architecture and landscapes of the subcontinent, but it also became a medium for Indians themselves to express their unique experiences of the country.
This exhibition brings to light the previously overlooked Indian photographers who worked in parallel with their foreign counterparts from the 1850s onwards. Pivoting around two key dates: 1857, the year of the Mutiny and 1947, the year of Independence and Partition, it is an ambitious survey of the technological and artistic development of photography in India that examines the role the medium has played in charting the country’s modern history.
Among the images are works by Samuel Bourne, art photography pioneer Maharaja Sawai Ram Singh II, Henri Cartier-Bresson and award-winning contemporary photographer Vasantha Yogananthan.
Part of an exciting series of events marking the UK–India Year of Culture 2017–18, which will celebrate the vibrant cultural history of the two countries.
By taking a global perspective on the development of science and technology, the Science Museum aims to engage new audiences and strengthen international relationships between British and Indian scholars and cultural institutions.
As the home of human ingenuity, the Science Museum’s world-class collection forms an enduring record of scientific, technological and medical achievements from across the globe. Welcoming over three million visitors a year, the Museum aims to make sense of the science that shapes our lives, inspiring visitors with iconic objects, award-winning exhibitions and incredible stories of scientific achievement.
UK/India 2017 is a year-long celebration of the long-standing relationship between India and the UK, which will see a vast programme of cultural exchange and activity take place in cities across both countries. Working with a huge number of partners and institutions, the British Council is developing a programme of cultural activity which will connect and inspire people in both countries; and strengthen and celebrate the UK and India’s cultural ties.
Discover South Kensington brings together the Science Museum and other leading cultural and educational organisations to promote innovation and learning. South Kensington is the home of science, arts and inspiration. Discovery is at the core of what happens here and there is so much to explore every day.