The Cambridge Majlis

The Cambridge Majlis is a platform for discussion of social and political issues in South Asia.

The Majlis was originally founded in 1891 and served as an important forum for anti-colonial discourse. Many prominent Indian politicians trained in debate at the Majlis and the society was often addressed by prominent figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and John Maynard Keynes. Notable alumni include Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Jawaharlal Nehru, Manmohan Singh and Amartya Sen. The Majlis continued as a forum for discussion between Indian and Pakistani students and survived two wars between the two countries. Unfortunately, after the war of 1971 the Majlis went into a period of inactivity. It was revived recently in an attempt to reconnect to its rich history and provide a platform for civil discourse on difficult topics. We organise weekly events (Sunday evenings) that consist of debates, speakers events and social events.