Oxford Majlis
| Formation | 1896 |
|---|---|
| Type | Student cultural and debating society |
| Headquarters | Oxford, England |
| President | Raghav Kanwar (2025-26) |
| Vice President | Aisha Khan-Aziz (2025-26) |
| Affiliated societies | Cambridge Majlis |
The Oxford University Majlis Asia Society, also known as the Oxford Majlis, is a South Asian cultural and debating society in Oxford, England. Founded in 1896,[1] the society became an intellectual, social and practical hub for anti-colonial thinking and action[2] alongside its counterparts in Cambridge (founded in 1891)[3] and London. It is the second oldest student society in Oxford, the oldest being the Oxford Union, and has a long and extensive tradition of hosting important leaders, both from South Asia and otherwise.
Former members and Presidents include Indira Gandhi[1], Benazir Bhutto[4], Manmohan Singh[5], Solomon Bandaranaike (president)[1], M. C. Chagla[1], Liaquat Ali Khan[6][7], Rabindranath Tagore (honorary member and contributor)[1], Govinda Krishna Chettur (president, Hilary term 1920)[1][8], K.P.S. Menon[1], Mohammad Habib (president)[1][9], Humayun Kabir[1], Basanta Kumar Mallik[1], Frank Moraes[1], Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy[1][10][11], Dr Shaukat Hameed Khan (president 1962)[12], Bakar Ali Mirza (president)[13], Sajjad Zaheer[14], Kamal Hossain, Freda Bedi[15], K.M. Panikkar[16], and Rishi Sunak (social secretary).[1][17][18]
History
Originally founded in 1896 for Indian students at the University of Oxford, the Oxford Majlis became an organisation for the debate of political and social matters, as well as for socialisation.[19] The name Majlis comes from the Persian word for assembly.[20] Many future prominent Indian politicians were involved in the society. From the society's inception to the 1950s it agitated for the Indian Independence Movement from Britain. The Majlis societies were also involved with the India League (founded in 1928), which had crossover in its membership, and the Oxford Majlis still collaborates with the 1928 Institute[21].
After Independence the Oxford Majlis has remained a platform for South Asian arts, politics, and culture.
Archives from the British Library and British Colonial Policy and Intelligence Files show that the society's allegedly 'seditious activities' and 'communist leanings' led to the Metropolitan Police and Scotland Yard monitoring its activities.[22][14]
The society suffered a cyber attack in 2024.[23]
Speakers and events
The Oxford Majlis has a long history of receiving addresses from prominent figures. Past high profile speakers and honorary members include:
- Indian independence activist Mohandas Gandhi[5]
- Indian political activist and poet Sarojini Naidu[9][8][1]
- Indian President R Venkataraman
- Laurence Binyon[1]
- Rajani Palme Dutt[1]
- Ernest B. Havell[1]
- Shapurji Saklatvala[1]
- Rabindranath Tagore[1]
- Bertrand Russell
- William Butler Yeats[9][8]
- Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
- Ravi Shankar, who gave his first recital outside of India with the society, and returned for an address in 1993.
- Lalita Ahmed
- Apache Indian
- BBC New Delhi Bureau Chief and journalist Mark Tully
- Vikram Seth
- Ismail Merchant
- Mithun Chakraborty
- Saeed Jaffrey
- Shekhar Kapur
- Dev Anand
- Pankaj Udas
- Nishat Khan
- David Gentleman
- Anita Desai
- Juggy D[4]
- Panjabi MC[4]
- Palestinian Diplomat Husan Zomlot
- Editor-in-chief of The Independent Geordie Greig[24]
- Pulitzer Prize Winning New York Times journalist Jeffrey Gettleman[25]
- Indian Actor Taha Shah Badussha[21]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Oxford Majlis | Making Britain". university.open.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ^ "'History-making and history-keeping': The Cambridge Majlis exhibition at the Wren Library". Varsity Online. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
- ^ "Cambridge Majlis | Making Britain". www5.open.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
- ^ a b c "Home". Oxford Majlis Asian Society. Retrieved 2025-08-13.
- ^ a b "Address by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in acceptance of Honorary Degree from Oxford University". Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. Archived from the original on 2025-04-19. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ^ "Liaquat Ali Khan | Making Britain". university.open.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ^ "Liaquat Ali Khan | South Asian Britain". southasianbritain.org. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ^ a b c "Govinda Krishna Chettur | Making Britain". university.open.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ^ a b c "Prof. Mohammad Habib | Aligarh Movement". aligarhmovement.com. Archived from the original on 2016-12-26. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ^ Khan, Waqar A. (2020-11-09). "The Unforgettable Suhrawardys of Bengal". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ^ "Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy | Making Britain". university.open.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ^ Kamal, Mustafaen (14 March 2019). "It was an absolute honour to have Dr. Shaukat Hameed Khan (Majlis President 1962) in Oxford". Facebook.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Members Bioprofile". loksabhaph.nic.in. Archived from the original on 2021-12-20. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ^ a b "Communist journal Bharat/New Bharat, issued by the Oxford Indian Majlis, including issue No.18 (Jan 1931)". Indian Political Intelligence Files, 1912–1950. Leiden: De Gruyter, 2024. British Library File Number L/P&J/12/252; File 878/1925. Microform Collection Fiche 335-336 (5-6). India Office Records, Asian and African Studies Reading Room, British Library. Accessed 2025-08-12.
- ^ Whitehead, Andrew (2019). The lives of Freda: the political, spiritual and personal journeys of Freda Bedi. New Delhi: Speaking Tiger. pp. 19–41. ISBN 978-93-88070-75-1.
- ^ "K. M. Panikkar | Making Britain". university.open.ac.uk. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ^ Kamboj, Sushmita (2019-02-19). "Oxford Majlis Society returns". Cherwell. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ^ Mishra, Anuj (2023-12-01). "Can you revive something that's long dead?: the Oxford Majlis". Cherwell. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ^ Wangchuk, Rinchen Norbu (2021-10-26). "Nehru To Bose: Inside The Debating Society That Gave India Her Freedom Fighters". The Better India. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
- ^ "The Cambridge Majlis, reborn". Varsity Online. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
- ^ a b Manku, Kiran; Kanwar, Raghav (7 July 2025). "The 1928 Institute with the Oxford Majlis Asia Society hosted @taahashah for a day of engagements with students at the University of Oxford". Instagram. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Cambridge Majlis celebrates South Asians and Anti-Colonial history". The Daily Star. 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
- ^ Abraham, Anandita; Butt, Zohaa (2024-10-15). "Hackers target 'second oldest' Oxford student society". The Oxford Student. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ^ "Mr Greig will be speaking at the Oxford Majlis on November 27th". Instagram. 27 Nov 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ Kanwar, Raghav (8 May 2025). "Thank you to everyone who came to see Jeffrey speak to us last night!". Instagram. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
Further reading
- The Majlis Magazine (Hilary 1986). Held in the Bodleian Libraries.
- The Oxford Indian Magazine (1914). Held in the Bodleian Libraries.
- Indian political intelligence files, 1912-1950. Declassified 1997. [1]
- British Library. Oriental and India Office Collections. [Indian Political Intelligence (IPI) Files, 1912-1950]. 12, Other Organisations and Movements. Leiden: IDC Publishers, 2000. Print.