Kipling (second from left) as rector of the University of St Andrews

In this rare 1923 photograph, we see Rudyard Kipling — author of The Jungle Book, Kim, and the Nobel Prize–winning poem If— — standing second from the left, captured during his tenure as Rector of the University of St Andrews, one of Scotland’s most prestigious institutions.

Though born in India and widely associated with British imperialism, Kipling's presence here marks a different chapter of his life: as a respected public figure, thinker, and champion of education. His controversial political views did not diminish the admiration many held for his literary achievements and his unique ability to capture the complexities of empire, duty, and identity.

This image also reflects the post–World War I atmosphere in Britain — a time of cultural reflection, academic reform, and a search for continuity in the wake of devastating loss. Kipling himself had lost his only son, John, in the war — a tragedy that deeply coloured his later years.

Do you have old photographs of academic ceremonies, literary figures, or historic family ties to British universities in the 1920s? We'd love for you to share them on OldPik.com and help bring the intellectual and cultural life of the early 20th century back into the light.

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