Welcome to The Royal Asiatic Society

The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was founded by the eminent Sanskrit scholar, Henry Thomas Colebrooke, on the 15th March 1823. It received its Royal Charter from King George IV on the 11th August 1824 ‘for the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia’.

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Covid-19 Response

The Society’s Reading Room has now re-opened on an appointment basis and we continue to run an active hybrid events programme. Face masks are mandatory in our Reading Room due to government guidance. Staff are contactable and should you have any enquiries, can be reached by email: