Kindred Nations: The United States and India, 1783-1949

Signed Just Gants [?] Madras Ice House – South View, 1858 Watercolor Courtesy of the Engravings Collection, Baker Library, Harvard Business School
Signed Just Gants [?]
Madras Ice House – South View, 1858
Watercolor
Courtesy of the Engravings Collection, Baker Library, Harvard Business School
Kindred Nations: The United States and India, 1783-1949, curated by Meridian International Center in Washington, D.C., with support from the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, presents historical images that recall tales of remarkable people – some well known, others awaiting rediscovery. These stories convey the range of Indo-U.S. interactions across many domains. Though the photographs and documents capture individual experiences, each narrative offers insight into cross-fertilizations between the United States and India that helped shape both countries. Kindred Nations represents yet another significant step in fostering bilateral relations between the U.S. and India.

Covering such themes as early trade, education, philosophy and religion, entertainment and the arts, and our countries’ shared vision for freedom, Kindred Nations includes nearly 80 images, documents, and ephemera from institutions, archives, and private collections around the United States. The exhibition was on display in public venues throughout India, including all consular cities, during a multi-year tour.

In 2015, Kindred Nations traveled to seven venues in five cities in India - New Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Kolkata. The tour was inaugurated by U.S. Ambassador to India Richard Verma, and dedicated by the U.S. Consul Generals in each city. Meridian's Lindsay Amini also presented a lecture on the project in Kolkata. During its nine-month tour in 2015, over 50,000 people, including students, viewed Kindred Nations.

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Project Timeline

January 15, 2016Meridian celebrates the end of Kindred Nations tour in Kolkata
January 15, 2016
January 15, 2016Times of India: Interview with the Meridian Center for Cultural Diplomacy’s Director of Cultural Programs, Lindsay Amini
January 15, 2016The Telegraph, Calcutta: Story of India and US in vintage frames
January 15, 2016Kindred Nations, a testament to the Indo-US bond
January 15, 2016Photographic exhibition on US-India relations inaugurated
January 15, 2016India’s sepia-tinted U.S. connections
January 15, 2016Photographic exhibition on US-India relations inaugurated
January 15, 2016Kindred Nations – The United States and India, 1783 – 1947
September 24, 2015The Times of India: Historical photos showcase Indo-US cultural ties
August 15, 2015Meridian Opens Kindred Nations: The United States and India in Hyderabad, India, August 15, 2015
July 1, 2015Culture Connect Newsletter, Jan-June 2015
June 28, 2015Kindred Nations
March 17, 2015BlouinArtinfo: Kindred Nations Exhibit Highlights Deep Roots of US-India Relations
March 16, 2015NewsroomPost: Meridian partners with the U.S. Embassy in India to launch “Kindred Nations”

Project summary

Kindred Nations: The United States and India, 1783-1949 | December 2015
Regions: South and Central Asia
Countries: India, United States
Impact Areas: Cultural Diplomacy
Program Areas: Culture
Partners: Diplomatic Corps
  See Program Page