Oxford Majlis Asian Society

The Oxford Majlis Asian Society is a cultural student association established in 1896 whose membership is drawn from the University of Oxford. Its aim is to provide a meeting point for students from backgrounds across all of Asia, as well as promoting Asian culture through sport, social events, and lectures by guest speakers. Former Presidents and officers of the society include Benazir Bhutto, Manmohan Singh, Indira Gandhi, and Kumar Padma Siva Shankara Menon.,^[1] Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Kamal Hossain, Patanjali (Tunku) Varadarajan, Mahesh Rangarajan, Sara Hossain, Nandini Sundar, Daljit Singh Makan and Mohammad Tufael Chowdhury.

History

Oxford Majlis was original founded as a debating society in 1896 at the university by Indian students to campaign as part of the Indian independence movement in the United Kingdom. Following the format of the Oxford Union, and the Cambridge Majlis (founded 5 years earlier), Indian students would meet on Sunday evenings to hold formal debates. They would also hold other social events such as music, dancing and lectures from invited speakers. Each year they would hold a debate against the Cambridge Majlis.

Before Indian Independence, the Oxford Majlis would often take up debates of a political nature relating to Empire and the relationship between India and the U.K. The majority of Indian students at the University felt compelled to be part of the organization and take part in these political debates, even if they were intending to take up positions sympathetic to the British in India such as in the Indian Civil Service. The Majlis was not only restricted to Indian students; Middle Eastern, Persian, Chinese, Sri Lankan, and Burmese students were an integral part of the ‘Asian student’ community before 1947.^[2]

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