BACSA offers a wide-ranging programme of lectures, meetings and events covering all aspects of Britain’s involvement in South Asia, and other areas where the East India Company left its imprint. Our participants come from a broad background and have many interests, and our events provide the forum for a lively exchange of views, as well as the friendship that comes from shared enthusiasms.
Our programme of activities for 2020 was cancelled because of the Coronavirus pandemic, but will be re-activated as soon as it is feasible. Our last event before lockdown was a visit in October 2019 to Apsley House, No 1 London, to view the Young Wellington exhibition, illustrating the early career in India of the first Duke of Wellington. The current Duke welcomed us to his home, and over refreshments provided a personal insight into his family’s connections with India. This was an interesting introduction to the exhibition, after which we enjoyed a tour of the house conducted by its curator, Josephine Oxley, focusing on the items of Indian interest. Military expert Marcus Cribb also described the achievements of the Duke in India and elsewhere. The outing concluded with an enjoyable lunch at a local restaurant.
The subsequent visit in April 2020 to the Wallace Collection to view its exhibition of ‘Forgotten Masters’ had to be cancelled. However, Charles Greig who was to have led the group and lectured on these paintings by Indian artists for British patrons in India, gives an interesting introduction to the exhibition in this blog post.
A four day event in Edinburgh had been planned for September 2020, but has been re-scheduled for 2022. On the theme of ‘The Scots and India’, the programme will include visits, lectures, walks and other entertainment. Further details will be given as the situation becomes clearer.