The diverse nature of the Commonwealth was the focus of our display to mark the occasion of the games in Glasgow. Ran from 9 July to 7 September 2014.
The 20th Commonwealth Games were hosted in Scotland by the city of Glasgow in summer 2014.
To mark the occasion, our display presented selected books, photographs, sketches, maps and manuscripts representing all regions and countries of the Commonwealth.
These exhibits illustrate the diverse cultures and histories of its 2.2 billion inhabitants.
Indigenous and colonial material
While focusing on the 20th and 21st centuries and on material produced by indigenous peoples, we also represented some of the colonial heritage of the Commonwealth as it evolved from the British Empire.
Items created by missionaries, explorers, and colonial officials sat next to the work of Indian astrologers, Nigerian novelists and Ghanaian revolutionaries.
We sought to show the manifold nature of the Commonwealth, which in turn reflects the diverse collections at the National Library of Scotland as they span the colonial past and Commonwealth's present.
Highlights on display
- A hand-painted 18th century Indian roll containing diagrams and mythological figures of Indian astrology
- A sketch of the Brimstone Hill Fort in St Kitts and Nevis built with slave labour — it is a testament to the innovative skills of British engineers and a poignant reminder of the human tragedy of slavery
- A 1988 issue of 'The Pakistan Times' published in Lahore, reporting the election of Benazir Bhutto, the first female Prime Minister of Pakistan and thus the first female leader of a Muslim state
- A 1930s photograph of a group of Canada's Cree Indians — part of the papers of John Buchan, the author of 'The 39 steps' who served as Governor-General of Canada from 1935 to 1940
- Late 19th century sketches of Africa drawn by Scottish missionaries and explorers
- Literary works by African and Caribbean authors.
Established in 1949
In 1949 the London Declaration established the modern Commonwealth, a voluntary association of independent and equal sovereign states.
In 2013 the Commonwealth published its charter outlining the guiding principles of democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and freedom of expression.
Many of the items on display — whether literary, artistic, or political — represented events borne from the fight for freedom of expression, equal rights and democracy.