The British Library and the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) have come together in a new partnership to host a series of events in Jaipur and London during 2017, with the former loaning a facsimile of the 1215 Magna Carta to be on display at the JLF site.
The 10th year of JLF is scheduled to take place from January 19 to 23 in the pink city.
The British Library will be part of the programme in Jaipur that will look at the legacy of Magna Carta and Claire Breay, Head of Ancient, Medieval and Early Modern Manuscripts at the British Library and Curator of the 'Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy' exhibition, will join a panel discussion on justice.
The British Library will host the London leg of the festival for the first time in May. This will be the fourth edition of JLF@London, with a creative caravan of writers and thinkers, poets and balladeers brought together by co-directors Namita Gokhale and William Dalrymple.
The festival's partnership with the British Library places the legacy of Magna Carta, and its influence on the Indian constitution, at the centre of discussions and debates at Jaipur Literature Festival and will also explore the concept of justice and the "rule of law" in relation to contemporary India, the organisers said.
"In an important year for UK and India relations, we are looking forward to explore common foundations in the Magna Carta as well as our many cultural and trade connections both at JLF@London in May and Jaipur in January. We know already that people are travelling from the UK and around the world to join us for what promises to be one of the best year ever," JLF Producer Sanjoy K Roy said in a statement.
The Magna Carta established the "rule of law" in England in 1215 after 25 barons forced the then King of England, King John, to agree to follow an agreed form of justice.
Now over 800 years old, the ancient document is celebrated for establishing the primacy of the "rule of law" in the functioning of a society, and is often cited as the original source of Article 21 of the Constitution of India -- "No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law".
--IANS
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