List of Notable Cambridge University Indian Alumni

Believe it or not, the ties between the University of Cambridge and our nation, India, date back 150 years. Time and again, the prestigious institute collaborates with the country known as the world’s knowledge hub since ancient times, currently leading joint research in around 85 fields. As a result, Cambridge has significantly contributed to shaping the mindset and producing many Indian prodigies both in present and past. Dive into this blog to learn more about some of the notable Cambridge University Indian aluminis.

Top 10 Cambridge University Indian Alumni

Be it politics, cinema, business, or academia, the Indian alumni of Cambridge University have left their footprints in every industry. If you want to know who these influential figures are, then here’s a list of some of the most iconic Cambridge University Indian aluminis to date:

1. Sir Dorabji Tata
2. Prince Ranjitsinhji
3. Jawaharlal Nehru
4. Rajiv Gandhi 
5. Dr Manmohan Singh
6. Srinivasa Ramanujan
7. Harivansh Rai Bachchan
8. Jayant Narlikar
9. Amartya Sen
10. Camellia Panjabi
11. Zia Mody
12. Karan, Lord Bilimoria 
13. Prathiba Singh

Let’s get to know these famous personalities in a bit more detail:

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Sir Dorabji Tata 

Source: The Hindu Business Line

An alumnus of the Gonville and Caius College under Cambridge University, Sir Dorabji Tata became the founding father of the Tata Group of Industries. Moreover, he played a crucial role in modernizing Indian industry and philanthropy by establishing one of India’s very first and largest conglomerates.

Prince Ranjitsinhji

Source: Sussex Cricket

A member of the Royal Family of Nawanagar, Prince Ranjitsinhji was also renowned for his batting prowess on the cricket pitch. This alumnus of Cambridge University went on to become one of the greatest cricketers of the early 20th century.

Jawaharlal Nehru

Source: Indian National Congress

The first Prime Minister of Independent India is perhaps one of the most notable Cambridge University Indian aluminis. Having pursued his higher education at Trinity College, Cambridge, the institute helped mould the majority of his political and economic thinking. He was also a key figure in the Indian independence movement and an architect of modern India’s foreign policy.

Rajiv Gandhi 

Source: Indian National Congress

Rajiv Gandhi is another influential Cambridge University Indian Alumni who promoted modernization and technological advancements during his short tenure as India’s Prime Minister. 

Dr Manmohan Singh

Source: Britannica

Holding the Prime Minister’s office from 2004-2014, Dr Manmohan Singh is one proud Cambridge University Indian alumni. The former Finance minister fondly reminisces about his days at the hallowed institute, stating that “it helped him see the role politics played in shaping human affairs”. He also played a key role in India’s economic reforms and liberalization in the 1990s.

Srinivasa Ramanujan 

Source: FairGaze

And who hasn’t heard of this mathematics prodigy? Srinivasa Ramanujan came to the limelight after he sent his work on number theory to G.H. Hardy, a mathematics professor at Cambridge. This self-taught genius also made multiple contributions to the fields of mathematical analysis, infinite series, and continued fractions in the 5 years he spent at the university.

Harivansh Rai Bachchan

Source: Hindwi

Poet, writer, and actor, Harivansh Rai Bachchan also adds another feather to his cap as a Cambridge University Indian alumni. This versatile artist was a prominent figure in Hindi literature and popular culture who gained his PhD at Cambridge through his research on the works of the English poet WB Yeats. 

Jayant Narlikar

Source: Stargazing Mumbai

Jayant Narlikar is an Indian astrophysicist who completed his Bachelor’s (with Hons) and doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge. This Cambridge University Indian alumnus was the first one to propose the steady-state theory of the universe alongside Fred Hoyle, an alternative to the Big Bang theory. Also, he is an emeritus professor at the Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics.

Amartya Sen

Source: ICRW

Post his oral cancer treatment, Amartya Sen went on to pursue his higher education at Trinity College, Cambridge, and earn his second bachelor’s degree in Economics. The Cambridge University Indian alumni is known for his work on welfare economics, social choice theory, and development economics, winning him a Nobel Prize. Moreover, Amartya Sen is a world-renowned scholar, economist, philosopher and author.

Camellia Panjabi

Source: Indian Women in Hospitality

Last but not least, Camellia Panjabi is a leading human rights lawyer and activist. Moreover, she champions the rights of marginalized communities, particularly women and religious minorities, earning her a rightful spot as a well-known Cambridge University Indian alumni.

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