Indian Institute

The Indian Institute, established in 1883 at the University of Oxford by Sir Monier Monier-Williams, was dedicated to training for the Indian Civil Service during the British Raj. Located in a distinctive English Renaissance building designed by Basil Champneys, it featured a library specializing in South Asian history and culture, and a museum that showcased artifacts from India. Although the institute was a hub for Indian studies, it faced controversy in 1968 when it was evicted from its premises, leading to protests from the Indian government and local student unions. Today, the original building houses the Oxford Martin School, while the library has been integrated into the Bodleian Library, continuing its legacy of promoting knowledge about the Indian subcontinent.