William Hague MP inaugurates King's India Institute, London
27th January 2012

The Rt Hon William Hague MP, UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, inaugurated the King's India Institute on Indian Republic Day (26th January 2012) with a keynote speech in which he emphasized the growing importance of UK-India bilateral relations; welcomed the "brightest and best" Indian students and congratulated King's College, London in launching the prestigious new institute for global engagement with contemporary India. The event was attended by the acting Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Mr Rajesh Prasad; members of the Indian High Commission, governors and students of King's College London, Indian businessmen and women and key leaders from the South Asian diaspora.

The King's India Institute, which opened its doors to students in September 2011, is already becoming a world-leading institution for global engagement with contemporary India. The Institute - one of a network of Global Institutes at King's focusing on 21st century world powers - is pioneering a unique interdisciplinary approach to research on contemporary India, with experts from across the fields of social sciences, policy, law, security studies, science and health.

Rt Hon William Hague MP said: "It is a great pleasure, on India's Republic Day and the 62nd anniversary of the signifying of its Constitution, to express my sense of optimism and excitement about our relations with India and all that lies ahead for the citizens of both our countries, and our Government's firm commitment to develop even closer ties in the years to come and indeed we can hope throughout this century, which is very much India's to shape.

"This new Institute at King's could not have come at a better time. Now is the time to study India, to invest in India and to work with India. The rise of India and other nations is good for the people of those countries; it is good for the world; and it brings immense opportunities for a country like Britain that is able to seize them.

"I wish the King's India Institute and its students every success in the coming years. It is inspiring to think of all those who will expand our intellectual horizons and cement our ties with India in the years to come by studying here."

The Institute is led by Director Professor Sunil Khilnani, author of The Idea of India. Professor Khilnani, who has recently returned from the Jaipur Literary Festival, made a speech describing his vision for the Institute: "King's College London is manifestly the right place for our new India Institute. King's is an invigorated university expanding its global research footprint and its engagement with the world - through its student body, its faculty, and its partnerships. Its spirit today is one of innovation and experimentation - as is ours.

"The choices and judgements India makes today will orient its future for many years to come, and it is no longer an overstatement to say that those choices will also change the future of the world. The animating spirit of our new India Institute will be to understand India as such: a nation not at the periphery, but at the centre of our most crucial global debates."

The Principal of King's College London, Professor Sir Rick Trainor, closed the official inauguration ceremony saying: "We are excited by the significant milestones already achieved by Professor Khilnani and his team at the King's India Institute. Although still in its infancy, the India Institute is in an extremely strong position to assist in developing the UK and Europe's understanding of, and engagement with, contemporary India."

Further information on the King's India Institute: www.kcl.ac.uk/indiainstitute

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