Britain's Royal Institution, which has for almost two centuries, enthralled young audiences with lectures each Christmas by luminaries of the likes of Michael Faraday, and Sir David Attenborough, is now contemplating abandoning London and staging this year's lectures in Bangalore, India.

Royal Institution (RI) officials have said that the move to Bangalore, India's IT and technology hub would be the most radical change in the history of the lectures, which date from the mid- 1820s, and has been held every year, except during WWII.

While it is not known, as to exactly why RI is planning to shift the lectures to Indians, the increasing influx of Indian students each year to Britain for higher studies might have something to do with it, reports The Telegraph."An increasing number of Indian students come to British universities to study science. It would be a wonderfully positive signal from UK science to reciprocate, tapping into India's great enthusiasm for science," said Prof. Trevor Cox from the University of Stanford.

Prof. Cox is one of luminaries being considered to give this year's Christmas lectures.

"India has such a great mathematical heritage. Also there are some really enthusiastic kids out there who love maths, judging by the e-mails I receive from India," said Prof. Marcus du Sautoy from Oxford University, another shortlisted lecturer.

RI director, Baroness Susan Greenfield, however, said, "It is not definite yet but it is something we would like to do", adding that the British High Commission was helping investigate the possibilities. (ANI)