Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland facts for kids
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| Formation | 15 March 1823 |
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| Founder | Henry Thomas Colebrooke |
| Type | UK registered charity |
| Headquarters | 14 Stephenson Way, London, NW1 2HD, England, United Kingdom |
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President
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Professor Sarah Ansari |
The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, often called the Royal Asiatic Society, is a special group in the United Kingdom. It was started in 1823 to help people learn more about Asia. This includes its science, literature (books and writing), and arts.
Since it began, the Society has been a place for experts to share their knowledge about Asia. They do this through talks, their own magazine (called a journal), and other publications. It is the oldest and most important group in the UK for studying Asia. People who are chosen as "Fellows" of the Society are very skilled scholars of Asian studies. They can use the letters FRAS after their names.
The Society celebrated its 200th birthday on March 15, 2023. Many special events were planned to mark this big occasion.
Contents
The Society's Beginnings: A Look at Its History
The Royal Asiatic Society was founded in London in 1823. The very first meeting happened on March 15 at a place called the Thatched House. Henry Thomas Colebrooke led this meeting. At this meeting, they chose leaders and decided the group's name would be the Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Later that year, King George IV agreed to support the Society. He also allowed it to use the title "Royal." This changed the name to the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. The Society received its official permission, called a royal charter, on August 11, 1824.
Who Started the Royal Asiatic Society?
The Society was started by important scholars and people who worked in government in the British Empire. They wanted to create a group in Britain similar to the Asiatic Society of Calcutta in India. That group was founded in 1784 by Sir William Jones, a famous expert in Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language.
A key person in starting the Royal Asiatic Society was Henry Thomas Colebrooke. He was also a Sanskrit scholar and had even been the President of the Asiatic Society of Calcutta. Another important founder was Sir George Staunton, 2nd Baronet, a diplomat who spoke Chinese and had worked in China.
What Does the Society Study?
Because the Society had strong ties to the British Empire in the East, much of its early work focused on India. However, the Society's interests go far beyond India. They study all of Asia, including parts of Islamic North Africa and Ethiopia.
The Society usually avoids studying very recent political events or current news. This led to another group, the Central Asian Society, being formed. This group later became the Royal Society for Asian Affairs. After World War II, when Britain's power in Asia began to lessen, the Society continued its focus on academic study of Asia.
The Society often holds talks at its offices. These talks are usually free to attend. Many past talks are also available to watch or listen to online.
Who Are the Members and Fellows?
In the beginning, people who joined the Society were called "Members." Over time, the term "Fellows" became more common. Today, members are called "fellows" or "student fellows." If you are a Fellow, you can use the letters FRAS after your name. This shows you are a recognized expert in Asian studies.
Many famous people have been members or fellows of the Society. These include Rabindranath Tagore, Sir Aurel Stein, Sir Wilfred Thesiger, and George V. Tsereteli.
Where Are the Society's Branches?
The Royal Asiatic Society has partner groups in different countries. These are called "associate societies" or "branches."
- In India: There are branches in Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Bihar. The Mumbai branch is now known as the Asiatic Society of Mumbai.
- Other Asian Countries: There are also branches like the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka, the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong (started in 1847), the Asiatic Society of Japan (started in 1875), the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (started in 1877), Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch (started in 1900), and the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh (started in 1952).
- In China: The former South China Branch is now the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong. The North China branch was restarted in 2006 in Shanghai as the Royal Asiatic Society China. It also has smaller groups in Suzhou and Beijing.
The Library and Archives
The Society has a large library with materials dating back to the 12th century. This means they have very old books and documents! You can visit their Reading Room in London to look at these collections. The Society also has a Digital Library, where you can access some materials online.
The Society's Journal
The Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society is a scholarly magazine published four times a year. Each issue contains many academic articles and book reviews. It has been published under its current name since 1991. Before that, it had different names, like Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Professor Sarah Ansari is the current editor of the Journal.
Prizes and Awards from the Royal Asiatic Society
The Royal Asiatic Society gives out several prizes and awards to recognize excellent work in Asian studies. Here are a few examples:
- The Sir George Staunton Prize: This award is for young scholars who have recently finished their PhD or are still studying. It's for articles about the history, art, languages, or religions of Asia.
- The Surya P. Subedi Prize: This is an annual award for a publication specifically about Nepal.
- The Professor Mary Boyce Prize: This prize is given for studies on religion in Asia.
- The David Morgan Memorial Prize: This award is for articles published in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society by recent PhD graduates.
- The Royal Asiatic Society’s New Barwis-Holliday Award: This award is for new, unpublished research on the art, history, or religion of East Asia.
- The Royal Asiatic Society Award: This award is given every three years for overall excellence in Asian Studies.
- The Sir Richard Burton Medal: This medal is awarded to scholars and travelers who have done important work in Asia.
- The Denis Sinor Medal: This medal is specifically for studies about Inner Asia.
Who Is the President?
The President is the main leader of the Society. Currently (as of 2021), the President is Professor Sarah Ansari. Dr. Gordon Johnson is the Vice-President.
Past Presidents of the Society
Many important people have served as President of the Royal Asiatic Society since it began. The first President was Charles Williams-Wynn, who served from 1823 to 1841. Other notable past presidents include Donald James Mackay, 11th Lord Reay (who served for a very long time from 1893 to 1921) and Sir Richard Olaf Winstedt (who served multiple terms).
See also
- Fellows of The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland
- Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society
- Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka
- Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch
- Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch
- Royal Asiatic Society China
