Asiatic Society of Bengal
Also called: Asiatic Society · Topic: Studying Indian History: Sources, Dating and Historiography · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 2 "Kings, Farmers and Towns"; Class 12, Ch 4 "Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings"
Meaning
The Asiatic Society of Bengal was a learned society (a group of scholars) founded by William Jones in Calcutta in 1784. It studied Asia's languages, texts, history and antiquities. It collected manuscripts, inscriptions and objects, and it published research in its journal. It was a key place where the modern study of India's past began under colonial rule.
Example
James Prinsep, an officer in the East India Company's mint, was its secretary. In 1838 he read the Brahmi script of Asoka's inscriptions. In the 19th century, some sculpted slabs from the stupa at Amaravati were taken to the Society in Calcutta.
Don't confuse with
- Archaeological Survey of India: it was a government department set up in 1861 to survey and dig sites. The Asiatic Society was a private scholarly body founded much earlier.
Related concepts
- Inscription
- Epigraphy
- Prakrit
- Palaeography
- Votive inscriptions
- Aihole inscription
- Copper plate inscriptions
- James Prinsep
- Brahmi script
- Brahmi numerals