The 1928 Institute was formed by Oxford academics of Indian origin.
With a mission to promote spaces for British Indians to debate the salient issues of our time, the Institute also aims to represent the community’s interests in the corridors of power.
This has now grown into a platform that showcases the diversity of British Indian culture, heritage, and identity through creative and informative events, rigorous research, and inclusive public outreach.
We are a University of Oxford spin-out designed to:
I) Research and represent British Indians
We conduct empirical research, impactful events, and critical briefings aimed at policy-makers
II) Analyse the UK-India Relationship
Our group provides the Secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on India (Trade & Investment)
III) Be a platform for dialogue and to disrupt echo-chambers
We work with our diverse member network to promote dialogue and debate
Our Offering
Community services:
I) Novel and Pivotal Research
We co-create research with the community into diaspora affairs, ranging from health inequalities to political priorities. This is used to guide policy-makers, the media, and the public-at-large.
III) Heritage Preservation
We work on preserving British Indian history and highlighting Indian culture. We do this through research and supporting experts in the field, followed by showcasing it through our social media, the mainstream media, and Parliamentary events.
II) Promoting Solidarity
We facilitate understandings between groups across the ideological spectrum to promote pluralism and disrupt 'echo-chambers’. We express this through intimate and unique events to promote unity in tackling the 'big issues’ of our time.
The vast majority of our work is community-focused and has been used to drive social change based on the wants and needs of the British Indian community, as discovered through our in-depth community engagement. To support this work, we work closely with charitable foundations, funding bodies, donors, and also rely on community funding.
Consulting:
I) Navigating the UK-India relationship
We help public and private organisations understand this relationship and how they can best position themselves. This is by creating bespoke packages, ranging from research to events.
II) Understanding the diaspora
We help public sector organisations understand and have meaningful engagement with the British Indian community.
To support this work we are funded by public sector agencies (i.e. the NHS) and select corporate sponsors.
Our Values
I) Non-Partisan II) Inclusive III) Solidarity IV) Internationalist V) Pioneering