Monday 27 May 2024: Ramsay Postgraduate Scholars studying in the UK met recently for an evening of friendship and ‘critical reflections upon history’ at a formal dinner held at Christ’s College, Cambridge.
The dinner was organised by 2022 scholar Genia Hill, who is studying a Doctor of Philosophy in Geography and the Environment at Oxford. It was hosted at the College by 2023 scholar Stuart Nicholls, a quantum physicist studying a Master of Advanced Study in Theoretical Physics at Cambridge.
To the delight of the scholars, 2022 scholar Aden Cotterill, who is studying a PhD in Theology, invited Cambridge academic Dr Ankur Barua, Senior Lecturer in Hindu Studies, to deliver after-dinner remarks on the history of the British Empire in India.
The Ramsay Centre regularly supports gatherings of our overseas scholars studying a diverse array of disciplines, to help forge connections, and create opportunities for the scholars to learn from each other and compare study experiences.
2022 scholar Jennifer Tridgell who is studying a PhD (Law) from Cambridge wrote this reflection on the evening:
On 25 April 2024, a coterie of Ramsay World Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients convened at Christ’s College, Cambridge for an evening filled with scintillating conversation, collegiality, and critical reflections upon history. On this occasion, they heard engaging after-dinner remarks from Dr. Ankur Barua, Senior Lecturer in Hindu Studies at the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge, hosted by Ramsay scholar Aden Cotterill.
College formal dinners are a unique cultural experience at Oxbridge. Each of the 31 colleges in Cambridge host dinners with a frequency, format and level of formality befitting the college, its capacity and overarching ethos. For instance, at many older colleges, the Master chants a Latin prayer before dinner commences and scholars compulsorily don voluminous black robes, making one feel that they have assumed a minor starring role in Harry Potter. Others, often more modern colleges, eschew these requirements in seeking to create a more casual and egalitarian atmosphere.
Fellow Ramsay scholar and host for the evening, Stuart Nicolls, gave a tour of Christ’s College before the formal proceedings commenced. Founded in 1437, Christ’s College is considered a relatively old college and is enchantingly pretty, with lilac blooms of wisteria scaling the golden sandstone facades in the central courtyard.
Following the formal dinner in a private function room, Aden introduced our guest speaker. Given Ankur’s wide-ranging interests and talents, he observed that one might equally describe him as a poet, singer, philosopher, and, most recently, novelist. That intellectual range shone through during his official remarks as Ankur explored the chequered history of British Empire in India. He even broke into song, on one occasion, to share a critically acclaimed poem from famed Bengali polymath, Rabindranath Tagore.
Before his theological studies in Cambridge, Ankur attained a degree in physics at the University of New Delhi, having grown up in India. To echo the words of Aden, ‘this geographical and biographical background gives Ankur, a unique vantage point on the questions, contributions, and complexities of the West.’
On behalf of the Ramsay Scholars, we extend our warm gratitude to Genia Hill for organising the event, Stuart Nicholls for hosting, Aden Cotterill for his introduction and Dr. Ankur Barua for his insightful remarks.
Interested in a Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship? Our scholarships support outstanding, thoughtful, and imaginative young Australian leaders to study at the world’s best overseas universities and are valued at up to AUD$90,000 p.a.
For more information go to: https://www.ramsaycentre.org/scholarships-courses/postgraduate-scholarships/
Media contact: Sarah Switzer 0407 816 098 / sarah.switzer@ramsaycentre.org