The Asiatic Society of Kolkata is one of the most prestigious organizations. The society is engaged in research based work, both in the field of science and arts. Also, research work has been initiated in subjects such as Geography, Meteorology, laws of storms, Chemistry, tidal observations, Palaeo-Botany, Geology - both Stratigraphical and Dynamical, Mineralogy, Zoology and Ethnology. Important research oriented bodies such as the Botanical Survey of India, the Indian Meteorological Department, the Trigonometrical Survey of India , the Zoological Survey of India and the Geological Survey of India owe their foundation to the Asiatic Society in Calcutta.
The Asiatic Society is located at 1, Park Street. Reaching the place is quite easy as one can take both the bus and the metro route. The Park Street Metro Station is also located near the Society.
The Asiatic Society Library and Museum
The library of the Asiatic Society boasts of a collection of rare manuscripts and large number of printed books in many languages. The
archives, manuscripts, museum objects, periodicals and printed books are the other possessions of the library. Also, there are
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books in a number of European languages, urdu, Perso Arabic language, Sanskrit, Sino-Tibetan, South Asian and some other Modern Indian Languages. The philology books are among the rare assets of the Society. The earliest collection of manuscripts were gifts from Europeans such as William Marsden and Henry Richardson.
This apart, the Museum too houses rare paintings, coins, sculptures and manuscripts. Though much of the collection of the museum is now seen in the Indian Museum, the Asiatic society complex has a number of the old artifacts. The Indian Museum too was initiated by the Asiatic Society.
History of The Asiatic Society in Kolkata
The Asiatic Society in Calcutta was founded by Sir William Jones on 15th of January, 1784. Sir William Jones was the Puisne Judge in the Supreme Court at point of time.
The Asiatic Society was founded with the objective of starting a center of all-round research and study of the eastern world. The love and curiosity of Sir Jones for the ancient Indian culture ultimately paved the way for the extensive research work in all related fields.
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