Somerville College welcomed dignitaries and distinguished guests to the ground-breaking ceremony for a new building at the heart of the University of Oxford’s Radcliffe Observatory Quarter yesterday, Tuesday 23rd September.
The Ratan Tata Building represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Somerville College to expand its teaching and learning space and articulate its vision for a dynamic, forward-looking academic community. In recognition of the historic and continued relevance of Indian scholarship to Somerville College, the Ratan Tata Building will also provide a permanent home for the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development. The OICSD was established at Somerville in 2013 and is now the University’s largest funding body for Indian scholars, engaged in addressing urgent issues of sustainability, governance and development.
Baroness Jan Royall, former Principal, Catherine Royle, Principal, Mr Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Mr Mehli Mistry, Trustee (Tata Trusts), Prof Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor, and HE Vikram Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India
The Ratan Tata Building is unique in two ways. First, it has the unique claim of occupying the last available parcel of land for development within the prized Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, which is fast emerging as a new centre of gravity for the University of Oxford. Second, it will be the first building within the University of Oxford to be named in honour of an Indian. The decision to name Somerville’s newest building in honour of Mr Ratan Tata recognises not only his transformational philanthropy, but also his lifelong belief in the power of education and his long years of friendship with Somerville College.
Yesterday’s event was convened by the new Principal of Somerville College, Catherine Royle, who took the opportunity of conferring a Foundation Fellowship upon the Chairman of the Tata Group, Mr Natarajan Chandrasekaran. The Foundation Fellowship is Somerville College’s highest honour in recognition of philanthropic support, and was awarded to Mr Chandrasekaran in recognition of the unwavering support the Tata Group has shown in enabling the Ratan Tata Building.
Prof Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford
Prof Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor, with Mr Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons and Tata Group
Catherine Royle, Principal, with Mr Natarajan Chandrasekaran
Catherine Royle, Principal, with Mr Natarajan Chandrasekaran
Catherine Royle, Principal, with Mr Natarajan Chandrasekaran, breaking the ground
Baroness Jan Royall, former Principal, Catherine Royle, Principal, Mr Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Mr Mehli Mistry, Trustee (Tata Trusts), Prof Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor, and HE Vikram Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India
Baroness Jan Royall, former Principal, Catherine Royle, Principal, Mr Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Mr Mehli Mistry, Trustee (Tata Trusts), Prof Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor, and HE Vikram Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India
A group photo from the ground-breaking
The ground-breaking was attended by Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, HE Vikram Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India and Mr Varun Chandra, the UK Prime Minister’s Special Adviser on Business and Investment. Also attending were the Rt Hon. Patricia Hewitt, former Minister and Chair of the UK-India Business Council, Louise Upton, the Lord Mayor of Oxford, former Somerville College Principal Baroness Jan Royall, fellows of Somerville College, distinguished executives from the Tata Group and representatives of both Morris+Company and our excellent project manager and planning consultants, Bidwells.
Speaking about the event, Catherine Royle, Principal of Somerville College, commented: “Somerville has always gone its own way and blazed new trails. That’s why Somerville is proud to be playing a key role in Oxford University’s growing relationship with India. I am very lucky to be taking forward the work of my predecessors – Jan and Alice – and be here as a brand new Principal for the ground-breaking of the Ratan Tata Building.
“To my mind, Somerville’s newest building brings together everything that is unique about our college. It’s creative and it’s ambitious, but it’s also an example of living our principles of partnership and sustainability. I am excited to have the honour to take this project forward alongside our friends at the Tata Trusts.”
Baroness Jan Royall, Principal of Somerville College 2017-2025, added, “Today we break ground on the Ratan Tata Building, a project that represents both the final piece in completing our historic campus and a bold statement of our future as an academic community. It has been an immense privilege to guide the evolution of these plans, and I know that I now pass on to my excellent successor, Catherine Royle, a plan that is Somervillian to its bones: inclusive, ambitious and with a quiet radicalism all its own.”
Finally, Mr Chandrasekaran, Chairman of the Tata Group, commented: “Today we make an important commitment to the future of Oxford-India scholarship, in the memory of a man whose kindness was equalled only by his vision. Mr Ratan Tata believed absolutely in the power of education to create a brighter future. In creating a permanent home for the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development at Somerville College, we see Mr Tata’s vision taking shape in a place he admired, in a form that will create a lasting bond of scholarship and hope between the University of Oxford and India.”