The Royal Commonwealth Society, the oldest and largest Civil Society in the Commonwealth, was founded in 1868, in a very different era. Governed by Royal Charter the Society promotes the values of the Modern Commonwealth. The archives of the Society are located at Cambridge University Library. A recent visit revealed a treasure trove, including Queen Mary’s private collection of books, photographic and personal scrap albums. Souvenirs of train tickets on the Oudh and Rohilkhand Railway and social events of the then Prince and Princess of Wales at Rawal Pindi in 1905, together with annotated photographs by Queen Mary of the Royal couple from their Indian Tour of 1911-1912 at the Durbar in Delhi and the King on his hunting trips, documented their visits to India in intimate and caring detail. One particularly beautiful book was presented to Queen Mary by the women of Bombay and featured beautifully painted pictures of local Hindu, Parsi and Muslim ladies. The collection was presented by Queen Mary to the Society following concerns that if left with the original recipient, the India Office, the collection might be split up following partition.
But indeed times have changed, with India now an emergent global power with the manifest advantages of being the world’s largest democracy, with a solid rule of law, burgeoning skilled labour force and world leaders in information technology. And global challenges abound; from climate change to countering violent extremism, to bringing greater prosperity through trade and investment and a continued push for gender equality. These are all agenda items for the Commonwealth network to which India can bring so much.
March is always an important focus in the Commonwealth calendar, with Commonwealth Day having recently been celebrated at the UK’s largest multi-faith service at Westminster Abbey, with The Queen and other members of royal family in attendance together with heads of government, high commissioners and parliamentarians. This year the service was a particularly historic occasion, and broadcast live on the BBC, as it marked The Queen’s 90th birthday year and some 64 years as Head of the Commonwealth.
The Society plays its own small part in effecting change and is leading a new initiative to preserve indigenous forests around the Commonwealth in The Queen’s name - the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy. There are already seven countries committed to this initiative and the hope and expectation is that India will also soon join. Next year is the India UK year – marking 70 years of bilateral relations with the UK as well as being an ideal time to mark India’s engagement with the Commonwealth and importance in this global network. The Society hopes to play its part in honouring this relationship.
