Oxford launches Indian faculty post

The University of Oxford in central England is launching a new professorship in Indian history and culture.

It has been funded by $3m from the Indian Government.

The Indian Foreign minister, Jaswant Singh, who secured the funding, is to be guest of honour.

The new professor will be expected to specialise in the medieval and early modern period - an area the head of Oriental Studies at Oxford, Dr Jeremy Black, said had been neglected.

An appointment to the new professorship is expected within a few weeks.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service