They explored Illuminating India before attending a glittering reception in celebration of the Living Bridge between the UK and India as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, organised by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
Prime Minister Modi, head of state of the world’s largest democracy, toured Illuminating India: 5000 Years of Science and Innovation with Science Museum Director Ian Blatchford and Curator Matt Kimberley and viewed the significant objects on display which tell the story of India’s long and fruitful history in science and technology.
They discussed Raman’s original spectrometer, correspondence between SN Bose and Albert Einstein and took particular interest in original drawings of stepwells, a distinctly Indian architectural innovation used to store water and for irrigation.
With more than 200 esteemed members of the British and Indian communities in attendance, Chair of the Science Museum Group Board of Trustees Dame Mary Archer and Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Matt Hancock welcomed Prince Charles and Prime Minister Modi to the reception and the delegation heard about collaboration in the areas of health, business, sport, and the creative industries in what Science Museum Group Director Ian Blatchford described as an “optimistic and joyful” reception.
International media watched on as Prince Charles and Prime Minister Modi were treated to a performance by Akademi South Asian dance group, saw the Premier League Trophy and the Cricket World Cup, and unveiled a plaque to inaugurate a new centre of excellence and research in traditional Indian medicine.
The Prince of Wales departed the reception in the Jaguar I-Pace, a brand new zero-emissions electric car by Jaguar Land Rover, which is owned by the Indian Tata Steel company.
Among the people present were Sir Venki Ramakrishnan, President of the Royal Society; Philanthropist Lady Helen Hamlyn; Richard Ovenden, Director of the Bodlean Library; British Mathematician Marcus du Sautoy; and Adventurer Ollie Hunter Smart who walked the length of India.
Illuminating India closes this Sunday 22 April.