Oxford and Oxford University

 

Oxford and Oxford University

Oxford University in UK requires no introduction to anyone who knows anything about higher education facilities anywhere in the world. Oxford might be the first in the UK in all rankings, including QS World or TIMES. Oxford University comes within the five positions in the world. As a teacher and as an educational planner, it was a great desire in my life to see the university and the city that bestowed the name to the university. Understanding my wish as in a ‘telepathy’ Akhil and Niya, my son and daughter had properly planned the itinerary for the one-month life in UK, in May 2025.

The journey in Akhil’s Jaguar took only 50 minutes to cover 44 miles from Warwick on M40 road, through which he could drive his obedient vehicle with much confidence and skill even switching off the Google map. “Highways and ordinary roads in UK have much quality, like that of any other country in Europe.” I shared my observation. But Akhil and Niya judged first grade to the roads in Switzerland than France and UK. “In Switzerland the roads are well maintained and smooth than any other country in the European Union.” Both of them were saying their evaluation from the experience of their tour in these countries, just one month before my visit to UK. So their evaluation is most credible about the quality of National Highways in Europe.

Leaving the car inside the car-parking-area we are beginning our expedition to see the Oxford University. The roadsides seemed busy, most of the people on the pathways were returning to their homes or to the places they stay. “Oh, by my watch, the time is 5 pm. The classes might have been completed now. The students, teachers and the administrative staff are leaving their offices.” Akhil and Niya confirmed my observation. For Akhil and Niya that was their fifth visit through the same route toward the same direction. We, I and my wife walked behind our children, who were explaining with enthusiasm about the oldest university in the English-speaking world. There is clear background for their interest to speak up about Oxford! One of them is an engineering scholar and the other one is a medical graduate, both of them are hailing from well-known Indian universities. Though I was a student for several educational programmes in Indian universities in the capacity of a student and as a research scholar, I was little bit envious of the students coming from the opposite side of the roads. With that envy I stared at the girls and boys who were stepping down from the buildings around and sprawling on the street.

Nobody could count them when they return to their hostels or co-living rooms briskly. University site says that they have 27000 students, 7000 plus teachers and 8000 plus administrative staff spread over the university campus. Think of the face, colour and complexion if these students and staff who are hailing from somewhat 80 different countries from Eurasia, the Americas and Oceania. ‘What would be the diversity that these students demonstrate in the classrooms? What are the languages they would speak? They speak different languages: English, too little! But other languages: French, Spanish, German, Swedish, Dutch, Chinese, Arabic, Japanese, Hindi, Tamil and even Malayalam  were heard around while the boys and girls move hand in hand.’ My envy flew up and up seeing their jubilation on the street. ‘My dear students from all the continents of the globe, do you know where you are now? You are in the university that produced 31 British Prime misters starting from Spencer Compton and extending to David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer. My dear youngsters, do you know that the departments in the University were factories that created 72 Nobel Prize laureates: they were once students, researchers or professors in the classrooms from where you’re stepping out into the busy and narrow streets where motor vehicles are not permitted now. Sometimes, you may know all these stories of the past! But you all hide your ignorance on your face…’

My envy turned into jealousy towards them, who were chattering and chuckling in their circles. Most of the students were crossing the roads to find appropriate coffee shops or eateries to enrich their evening, for they might have been caught fatigue in the classrooms or laboratories for longer hours’ involvement. ‘Ok good, let them enjoy on the streets of Oxford!’ I wished good luck in my mind.

Akhil and Niya took us first to the Sherdonian Theatre, construction of which was completed in 1669, that means, somewhat six centuries after the commencement of Oxford University. Out of much curiosity to know what all things are there inside, we walked up to the gate to go inside. The gates were closed before us, for we were late to buy the entry ticket before 5 pm. “No problem, shall we take a round of the theatre and/or take some group snaps to show others as the testimony of the visit?’ Niya had a plan to shoot the scenes to make reels, where I was compelled to act according to her direction.  So we took a round of the eight-sided theatre. “Though the name of the building is theatre, no drama or film is on here. Actually this is hall in which convocation ceremonies and other important functions were happening.” Our son and daughter shared their knowledge appropriately. Hearing this explanation, my thoughts were rowing into the past in the form a question airing to the students and tourists around: ‘Have you any idea where you are roaming now? Do you know great English writers who were educated in Oxford? The list goes like: Philip Sidney, Jonathan Swift, Samuel Johnson, William Morris, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Oscar Wilde, Lewis Carroll, T.S. Eliot, Evelyn Waugh...  Do you know the names of Nobel laureates who came to the Sherdonian theatre to receive their degree certificates? The long list goes like: Dorothy Hodgkin, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1964, and John Goodenough, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2019 for his work on lithium-ion batteries. Additionally, Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel laureate, was a student at Oxford. Yes, this is a holy place. We shall not sit here or stand here no more time!’ My feelings came out like this. So we thought of seeing the next holy place just in front of the Sherdonian theatre – the Christ Church.

          But the main door of the Christ Church had been closed as we couldn’t buy the entry pass on time. We went to the front side and the right side of the church. The churches in UK shall not be opened inattentively. So we couldn’t go into that holy place also. Stunned by the antiquity of the church building I tried to read a notice fixed near to the entrance, ‘This church was founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII.’ That means, the church has been there for the last five centuries.

 

          “Where are the departments and classrooms of the university?” That was my genuine question, for which Akhil answered. “The departments and the classrooms are sprawled in different parts of the busy city of Oxford.” With the anxiety to see them we walked downward on the road to read one by one. “Department of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Economics, History …”. The list is not in any order! In that busy evening on the streets we couldn’t complete the surveying. From Wikipedia I have understood that there are five major divisions and somewhat 80 departments affiliated the Oxford University in the Oxford city.

 

By 7pm on that sunny evening I noticed that the streets became deserted when the shop keepers pulled down the shutters or closed the entrances. The eateries, book shops and textile shops were closing their business when the students were going away from the streets and bus-bays. ‘No doubt, this is a city of students! This is a city for the students! This is a city by the students! This is a city built up only for learning and construction of knowledge.’ My thoughts went up on this line.

There was two more hours for sunset. A cold wind passed in between us, which had also a sweet fragrance of antiquity and appreciation.  “This Oxford, I have no doubt is the finest City in the world.” Who told this about Oxford? Though I didn’t know the answer, the quote echoed in my ears.