Highlights
- Amitabh Bachchan played many characters from William Shakespeare's plays over the years, but when he was shown the First Folio of the plays dated 1623 at the ancient Bodleian Library, he was awestruck and rendered almost speechless.
- "It's incredible," he simply said, feelingly moving his hand over the pages containing dialogues he had delivered in several stage performances during his career spanning over four decades.
- Bachchan was on a visit to Oxford at the invitation of the university's Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies (OCHS).
- Besides hosting a reception for him at the centre, he was shown around the ancient university, including the Bodleian Library, which was established in 1602.
Amitabh Bachchanplayed many characters from William Shakespeare's plays overthe years, but when he was shown the First Folio of the playsdated 1623 at the ancient Bodleian Library, he was awestruckand rendered almost speechless.
"It's incredible," he simply said, feelingly movinghis hand over the pages containing dialogues he had deliveredin several stage performances during his career spanning overfour decades.
Bachchan was on a visit to Oxford at the invitation ofthe university's Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies (OCHS).
Besides hosting a reception for him at the centre, hewas shown around the ancient university, including theBodleian Library, which was established in 1602.
"A great actor is touching the work of the greatplaywright," remarked Richard Ovenden, Keeper of SpecialCollections of the Library, as Bachchan turned the pages ofthe priceless Shakespearean document.
"We often have scholars coming to see these rarecollections, but this is the first time that a great actor isvisiting us to see the work of Shakespeare," Ovenden said.The work is titled 'Mr William Shakespeares Comedies,Histories, & Tragedies', better known to scholars as the FirstFolio.
Printed in folio format, it contains 36 plays thathave been the delight of generations over centuries.Another priceless item shown to Bachchan was themanuscript copy of the first English translation of Kalidas''Shakuntala', by William Jones, dated 1788.
A scholar of ancient India, Jones founded the AsiaticSociety in Kolkata in 1784.
He was also shown the original copy of the MagnaCarta, the 1215 charter that limited the power of the monarchyand laid the foundation for a series of historicaldevelopments that led to the rule of constitutional law anddemocracy.
Bachchan was received at the OCHS by its director,Professor Gavin Flood, who is an expert on South Asiantraditions, particularly Hindu Tantra, and senior staffincluding Shaunaka Rishi Das and Lal Krishna.Much to the delight of Indian students and others whorecognised him, Bachchan walked along Oxford streets to visitthe Bodleian Library, where he was received by Vice ChancellorProfessor Andrew Hamilton.Later in the evening, Bachchan said: "I have spent themost enjoyable hours in this historic institution. It has beena treat that will remain in memory for long."It is a great honour to be received so warmly by thisancient and renowned university".