Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

British Library celebrates India ties with exhibition on Hampi

The exhibition is made up of a display of photographs taken between 1857 and 1970 capturing Hampi.

British Library celebrates India ties with exhibition on Hampi

The British Library in London is celebrating the 75th anniversary of India’s independence with a special photographic exhibition on the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi in Karnataka.

‘Hampi: Photography and Archaeology in southern India’ is made up of a display of photographs taken between 1857 and 1970 capturing the archaeological site of Hampi – the capital of the prosperous Vijayanagara kingdom established in the 14th century.


The display, enhanced by three works by celebrated photographer Raghu Rai, is devised as a lens on the archaeological legacy of Hampi through the archives of the British Library and the research activities that have played a role in preserving the city’s cultural heritage.

“An Italian traveller documented that this was the most extraordinary city in the world at the time,” said Vikram Doraiswami, Indian High Commissioner to the UK, at a celebratory event for the exhibition in London on Monday (12).

“It had the most amazing urban architecture, it was a developed, flourishing, prosperous city. Even today when you visit it, you need several days to take in the totality of Hampi...In this 75th year of India’s independence, the High Commission is happy to work with the British Library, which holds so much that is wonderful and gives us all an opportunity to be part of history and to be able to celebrate and share it in special ways,” he said.

The ancient city was located along the banks of the Tungabhadra River and temple complexes, palaces and administrative buildings were built amongst the rugged landscape of granite boulders.

After flourishing for over 200 years, Vijayanagara fell to a rival kingdom in 1565 and Hampi was abandoned. But its ongoing religious significance and its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987 mean it continues to attract worshippers and tourists to this day, something the British Library exhibition aims to celebrate.

The London exhibition, curated by the library’s Head of Visual Arts Malini Roy, is part of a wider programme on South Asia at the British Library and is linked to the ‘Early Photography and Archaeology in Western India’ exhibition being showcased at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) in Mumbai since last month.

“This spotlight exhibition on Hampi is part of a year marking India@75, which has seen outstanding events and programmes in both countries to mark 75 years of independence. Our connection with partners in India remains strong,” said Dame Carol Black, chair of the British Library.

The sister exhibition at CSMVS in Mumbai is part of the British Council’s India/UK Together, Season of Culture. Skinder Hundal, Global Director of Arts at the British Council, added: “It brings us the opportunity to view some of rarest, earliest and the most striking photographs and objects of India’s rich archaeological heritage.

(PTI)

More For You

Liz Kendall

Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall will outline welfare reforms in a green paper next week, followed by chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement on 26 March.

Ministers may drop plan to freeze disability benefits: Report

MINISTERS are considering dropping plans to freeze Personal Independence Payments (PIP) for a year, according to a report.

Initial proposals suggested PIP would not rise in line with inflation, but strong opposition from Labour MPs has prompted a review.

Keep ReadingShow less
BBC settles age and sex discrimination case
BBC headquarters in Central London.
Getty Images

BBC settles age and sex discrimination case

THE BBC on Friday (14) said it had settled a case with four female journalists who claimed they lost their jobs because of their sex and age.

Martine Croxall, Annita McVeigh, Karin Giannone and Kasia Madera, who have all presented on the BBC's television channels, claimed they lost their jobs following a "rigged" recruitment exercise.

Keep ReadingShow less
Indian student in US self-deports after visa revocation

In this screenshot from a video posted by @Sec_Noem via X on March 14, 2025, Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian citizen who participated in pro-Palestinian protests at United State’s Columbia University, leaves the country after her visa was revoked by the Department of State. (@Sec_Noem via PTI Photo)

Indian student in US self-deports after visa revocation

AN INDIAN student at Columbia University, whose visa was revoked for allegedly supporting Hamas, has self-deported, says the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Ranjani Srinivasan, an Indian citizen, came to the US on an F-1 student visa as a doctoral student in Urban Planning at Columbia University, and her visa was revoked on March 5.

Keep ReadingShow less
'Companies with diverse leadership are better positioned for growth'

From LtoR- Lord Karan Bilimoria, Sir Trevor Phillips, Seema Malhotra MP, David Tyler and Nathan Coe

'Companies with diverse leadership are better positioned for growth'

COMPANIES with diverse leadership are better positioned for sustainable growth, improved decision-making, and will connect better with multicultural markets, equalities minister Seema Malhotra has said.

She added that the government will soon launch a public consultation on their approach to mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting.

Keep ReadingShow less
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar with  Wang Yi (right)

Subrahmanyam Jaishankar with Wang Yi (right)

S Jaishankar: ‘Delhi’s global interests shape its regional ties'

INDIA today sees itself as a global power or, at least, a country with global interests, which is why Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has spoken of its equation with Russia, China and notably the Middle East.

India’s external affairs minister was in conversation last Wednesday (5) in London with Bronwen Maddox, director of the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House.

Keep ReadingShow less