In the ever-evolving landscape of cultural diplomacy, the Nehru Centre in London has long stood as a bastion of Indian heritage. Established in 1992, this institution has been steered by eminent personalities such as Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Girish Karnad, Pavan Verma, and Monika Mohta. Amish Tripathi, the celebrated author of the Shiva Trilogy and the Ramchandra Series, also brought a breath of fresh air to the centre during his directorship from 2019 to the present.
Amish’s appointment marked a significant departure, as he not only became the youngest but also the first literary luminary to assume the director’s role at The Nehru Centre. Over his four-year tenure, he orchestrated a dynamic transformation that heightened the centre’s cultural impact and global visibility. In the context of India’s rising soft power on the world stage, Amish recognized the imperative for The Nehru Centre to assume a pivotal role in shaping global perceptions and fostering cross-cultural exchanges.
The challenges during Amish’s directorship were myriad, exacerbated by the onset of the global pandemic just six months into his term. Undeterred, Amish saw an opportunity in the digital realm to transcend geographical boundaries. Under his stewardship, The Nehru Centre hosted a series of online events featuring luminaries such as Jeffrey Archer, Kevin Peterson, Shashi Tharoor, and the Murthy family. These virtual engagements not only sustained the centre’s cultural momentum but expanded its reach into the Midlands, Scotland, Wales, and beyond.
In addition to his role at The Nehru Centre, Amish took on additional responsibilities as the Minister of Culture and Education at the High Commission of India. During his tenure, India surpassed China in the number of sponsored study visas in the UK. Amish’s personal interactions with Indian students at leading UK universities provided valuable insights into India’s promising future, with many of these students poised to make significant contributions upon their return.
Amish’s student-centric approach in the UK earned him the title of a guardian. Sanam Arora, Founder of NISAU UK, praised his adept curation of cultural exchanges at the Nehru Centre, enhancing the UK’s understanding of Indian heritage. His tenure stands as a crucial chapter in fostering a deeper appreciation of Indian arts and culture in the UK, with countless instances of him promptly addressing student concerns and creating a supportive environment for the Indian diaspora.
As Amish bids adieu to The Nehru Centre, his impact is lauded by prominent figures in the political realm of UK. Councillor and Co-chair of Conservative Friends of India Group, Reena Ranger, commends his contribution to connecting the history and beauty of India’s heritage and building upon the achievements of his predecessors. Lord Karan Bilimoria describes Amish as one of the very best directors, praising his commitment and the breadth of the cultural program he implemented.
Amish, in addition to his diplomatic role, became a central figure in the UK literary circuit, representing India on a global stage. Sanjoy Roy of Jaipur Literature Festival reflects on Amish’s inclusive approach, emphasizing how he brought the best of India to the consciousness of the British public. London, being central to the world of the arts, benefited from a person of letters like Amish, who, during his tenure, energized a space of knowledge and creativity through thoughtful curation and inclusiveness.
In light of protests and communal tensions traveling from India to the UK, Amish emphasized the right to protest while drawing a line against lawlessness. His approach was rooted in the principle that, regardless of differences, those outside India share a common identity shaped by Indianness, transcending social, political, or ideological divides.
As Amish Tripathi takes leave from The Nehru Centre, he leaves behind a cultural legacy that surpasses the expectations of a director and lays the foundation for continued excellence in promoting Indian heritage on the global stage. The journey continues, and as Amish expressed, the Nehru Centre is poised to go even further in serving the cause of Mother India. For Amish, the sky is the limit for UK-India relations, but recalibrations of the new world order could equally shape it, as last year, for the first time, it was India and not the UK that held the position of the largest economy in the Commonwealth.
Ashraf Nehal is a South Asian analyst based out of London and Shaurya Dev is a researcher at LSE and a former intern at the Nehru Centre.