The Hindu : A landmark of learning

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 29, 2003

National

National

A landmark of learning

By Arunkumar Bhatt

Photo: Paul Noronha

An Indologist at work at the Asiatic Society's P.V. Kane Institute for Research.

MUMBAI Nov. 28. Two hundred years ago, 17 Englishmen met here to form the `Literary Society of Bombay'. Their aim: "Promoting useful knowledge, particularly such as is now immediately connected with India."

What they founded in order to learn more about the principal possession of the British Empire, India, and to present the Orient to the West, has grown into a temple of Indology. The Asiatic Society, Mumbai, as it is known now, is launching here tomorrow its year-long bicentenary celebrations. The Vice-President, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, will be present.

It is a unique organisation, and a landmark of Mumbai. A library, a body of the learned, a research institution, a museum, all aim to encourage the study of and research in the languages, philosophy, arts and the natural and social sciences in relation to Asia in general and India in particular.

The library has 2.42 lakh books and bound volumes of periodicals. Over 15,000 books are classified as rare and valuable. Among them are first editions of antique books in Indian and European languages. These include the First Folio by William Shakespeare, An Account of Indian Serpents Collected on the Coast of Coromandel by Patrick Russell (1796), Diology by Galileo (1632) and Divine Comedy by Dante. Rare manuscripts include Suryasidhanta with Bhashya of Candelvara (Astronomy, Sanskrit), from the 12th century, and Risalat at-tarjamat az-zahira li fraqati Bohrat al-bahira (an essay on the history of the Bohras, Arabic), from the 17th century.

Among the 12,000 coins held by the Society is a gold coin of Kumaragupta, 5th century, a gold mohur of Akbar, and coins issued by Shivaji.

Initially, only Europeans could become members. But soon it was realised that India could not be studied without the `natives' also being present. Sir Maneckji Cursetji was the first Indian member, admitted in 1840.

Leading `Bombayites' including Jagannath Shankarsheth, Cowasji Jehangir, Bhau Daji Lad, Bhagwanlal Indraji and Dorab Tata joined in their time. They contributed to the corpus and donated their personal collections of books. The tradition continues.

Mahamahopadhyay Dr. P.V. Kane worked here on his multi-volume research work, History of Dharmasastra. It fetched him a Bharat Ratna.

The Society has a research centre named after him that is affiliated to Mumbai University.

Its priceless collection notwithstanding, the Society is facing a resource crunch. It proposes to hold art and culture shows and events during the Bicentenary Year in order to raise Rs. 3 crores to 5 crores, says its honorary secretary, Vimal Shah.

"We will raise funds in our dignified manner," she said when asked about offers made by some politicians.

The Society has a number of projects including for the publication of catalogues of its collection, digitisation of books and other conservation activities. It has planned an "Asiatika Walk'', to introduce this treasure house of knowledge to students and the common people.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National