Asiatic Society, Introduction, History, Objective and Function

Asiatic Society of Bengal founded by Sir William Jones. Read all the details related to Asiatic Society, Introduction, History, Objective and Function for UPSC Exam.

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Asiatic Society

Read all about Asiatic Society. Sir William Jones established the Asiatic Society in January 1784 to advance and advance the cause of Oriental study. In order to start a society for Asian studies, Jones sent a circular note to a select group of British residents of Calcutta. The Memorandum of Articles of the Asiatic Society, prepared by Jones said -“The bounds of investigations will be the geographical limits of Asia, and within these limits its enquiries will be expanded to whatever is done by man or made by nature”.

Only Europeans were chosen as members of the Society from 1784 to 1828. Several Indians were chosen as members in 1829, including Dwarakanath Tangore. For candidates studying for the UPSC Examinations, this article contains all the information they need regarding the Asian Society.

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Asiatic Society of Bengal History

Sir William Jones, a British lawyer and Orientals, established the Asiatic Society of Bengal on January 15, 1784, with the goal of promoting Oriental studies. Jones gave the first of a renowned sequence of discourses at the organization’s founding.

Jones, a distinguished student from the University of Oxford, came as a Supreme Court judge in Calcutta (currently Kolkata) on September 25, 1783. He arrived not long after the organization was established. Warren Hastings, the governor-general of Bengal (1772–85), supported and encouraged the Asiatic Society even though he refused the position of president. It served as the platform for Jones’ views about the significance of Hindu culture and education as well as the critical place Sanskrit holds among the Aryan languages until his death (1794). Indians were the first group to be accepted in 1829.

Calcutta is home to the headquarters. Paintings by Peter Paul Rubens and Joshua Reynolds are among the works in the society’s art collection. The collection of the organization houses more than 27,000 Sanskrit books, manuscripts, prints, coins, and engravings in addition to about 100,000 general volumes. Every so often, the Bulletin of the Asiatic Society of Bengal is released.

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Asiatic Society of Bengal Objective

Enhancing and advancing the cause of Oriental study was the primary goal of the establishment of the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1784. The study of Indian languages and scriptures, which will aid in understanding India from the perspective of Indians, could make this feasible.

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Asiatic Society Function

The Government has declared the Society as an institution of national significance.

1. Library

One hundred and seventeen thousand books and seventy-nine thousand journals in all the major languages of the globe are housed in the Asiatic Society’s library. A sizable collection of maps, microfiches, microfilms, paintings, pamphlets, and photos are also included. The oldest book left in this place is Juli Firmici’s AstronomicorumLibri, which was released in 1499. A sizable collection of documents in numerous languages and scripts is also available in the library. The manuscript of Padshah Nama bearing Emperor Shahjahan’s signature is the most noteworthy.

2. Museum

Wallich founded the Asiatic Society Museum in 1814. The majority of its collections have been moved to the Indian Museum in Culcutta. But it still has some treasures, including an Asoka rock edict from around 250 BCE, Joshua Reynolds’ Cupid sleeping on a Cloud, Guido Cagnacci’s Cleopatra, and others.

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Asiatic Society UPSC

The British made the decision to found institutes to research and comprehend Indian culture in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Asiatic Society of Bengal was one such institution. William Jones established it in 1784. The organization’s primary research interests were in Hindu philosophy and culture, as well as the significance of the Sanskrit language. For the UPSC/IAS Exam preparation, read this text for all the information pertaining to Asian society.

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FAQs

Who founded the Asiatic Society and why?

Sir William Jones, a British lawyer and Orientalist, established the Asiatic Society of Bengal on January 15, 1784, with the goal of promoting Oriental studies. Jones gave the first of a renowned sequence of discourses at the organization's founding.

What is Asiatic Society in history?

The Asiatic Society is a government of India organization that was established during the Company era in India to advance "Oriental study," in this case, research into India and the surrounding areas.

What is the meaning of Asiatic Society?

Early in the 18th century, the British established the Asiatic Society in the Indian subcontinent with the goal of promoting Asian-related research, literature, and the arts. Any of the following could be referred to: Calcutta, India's The Asiatic Society.

Who established Asiatic Society and where?

Sir William Jones established the Asiatic Society in January 1784 to advance and advance the cause of Oriental study. Jones sent a circular letter to a select group of British citizens living in Calcutta with the intention of founding an association for Asian studies.

What was the aim of Asiatic Society?

The Society was intended to serve as the British equivalent of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, which was established in 1784 by philologist Sir William Jones with the goal of advancing Oriental study in India and the surrounding areas.