The United Kingdom’s famous Madame Tussauds wax museum will open a branch in Delhi, exhibiting figures of Bollywood stars and other celebrities. This is part of a series of cultural exchanges slated for the India-UK Year of Culture in 2017. The announcement was made during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to the UK.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said a Shakespeare First Folio, treasures from the British Museum and a copy of the Magna Carta will go on touring displays across India as part of the cultural exchange. A festival of India will also be staged in the United Kingdom during the year. “We have some of the best cultural exports in the world – and it's about time we celebrated this, together,” Cameron said.
The British Library will be making Indian books from 1714 to 1914 accessible around the globe, while Cameron also announced a year-long-programme to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Indian independence and cultural ties with the UK.
Other UK attractions like Sea Life aquariums and Legoland Discovery Centres are expected to open across Indian cities. Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalya museum will also have a special exhibit featuring some items on loan from the British Museum.
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