The Asiatic Society of Mumbai is an oriental organization based in Mumbai , India .
Content
History
This society originates from the Bombay Literary Society , the first meeting of which took place in Bombay on November 26, 1804 in the official residence of Governor Jonathan Duncan and was founded by Sir James Mackintosh . Perhaps the very idea of founding this society belongs to Governor Duncan himself and historian William Erskine. The fact is that these two people were already among the founders of such a society - the Asian Society in Calcutta [1] .
In 1829, at the proposal of the Royal Asiatic Society in London, the Bombay Literary Society merged with it on the basis of maintaining administrative and financial independence and became known as the Bombay Branch of this London organization. At first, only Europeans could become members of society, but from 1840 on, access was open to Indians. Outstanding scholars ( pandit Bhagwanalal Indraji and B.D. Lal) and simply famous people of the city gradually entered society. Already in 1885, the first Indian president of the society, K. T. Telang, was elected. Members of the public, Sir R. Bhandarkar , J. Modi and John Faithful Fleet, are renowned for their achievements in science.
In 1873, the Bombay Geographical Society merged with the Bombay Branch, and in 1896, the Bombay Anthropological Society .
In 1947, after India gained independence, the name Asian Society of Bombay was adopted. Since 1954, at the suggestion of the Government of India, the society is considered one of the four main libraries whose purpose is the preservation, receipt and cataloging of books published anywhere in India and in all Indian languages. In 2005, the company received its modern name - Asian Society of Mumbai [2] . It is funded through an annual grant from the Indian government.
One of the major scientific achievements of society was the publication of a multi-volume study by P.V. Kane “History of Dharmashastra” ( English History of Dharmashastra ), published in 1930-1962. For this work, the scientist received the highest award of India under the name " Bharata-ratna " [3] .
Society meetings
The library of the society contains over 100 thousand books, of which about 15 thousand are recognized as rare and valuable publications. It also houses many priceless artifacts and over 3 thousand ancient manuscripts in Persian , Sanskrit and Prakrit . Manuscripts are made both on paper and on palm leaves. The numismatic collection of a society of more than 50 thousand coins includes, for example, the gold coin of Kumaragupta I , the rare golden Muhr of Akbar and coins issued by Shivaji . The number of cards here is over 1300 copies.
Among the most valuable copies of the book collection are:
- One of two only known original copies of Dante ’s Divine Comedy . The manuscript is dated to 1350 .
- The manuscript "Vasupujyacharita" (1242), a Sanskrit text about the life of the Jaina tirthankara Vasupujya .
- The manuscript " Shahnameh " by Firdousi in Persian and with illustrations.
- Manuscript of the 3rd book of the Mahabharata , Aranyakaparva, dating from the 16th century.
Magazine
The Bombay Literary Society published its work entitled Transactions of the Literary Society of Bombay . Later, in 1841, the issue of the Journal of the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society was launched. In 1955-2001 the name of the magazine was the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bombay , and since 2005 the magazine began to appear under the name Journal of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai .
Notes
- ↑ Encyclopedia of India / Stanley A. Wolpert, editor in chief. - Vol. 1. A - D. - Detroit, 2006 .-- P. 67.
- ↑ asiaticsociety.org - Brief History Archived April 30, 2011.
- ↑ Encyclopedia of India / Stanley A. Wolpert, editor in chief. - Vol. 1. A - D. - Detroit, 2006 .-- P. 68.