Asiatic Society of Kolkata is a reputed and famous organisation in the country and abroad. Sir William Jones, who was a Supreme Court judge at the then Calcutta, founded the Asiatic society at Kolkatta on 15th January 1784. Sir William Jones was a renowned scholar who knew many languages and an abiding interest in cultivation of knowledge in the civilization of Asia. The study of civilization was fundamental aim of the Asiatic society. It was primarily devoted to continuous and intensive cultivation of knowledge of the Indian subcontinent and Asiatic continent. The result of this endless research firstly collection of huge volume of materials for study and analysis and secondly, publication of such studies systematically in journals like Asiatick research and journal of Asiatic society. The research by European and Indian scholars contributed to the discovery of Asia and its ancient contribution of this civilization to the entire world much before Europeans made their impact. It is here that Alexander Korus wrote the Tibetan Dictionary,, James Prinsep deciphered the Brahmani script, and H.T. Colebrook studied about ancient Indian science.
The society has a collection of rare books, manuscripts, botanic samples, archaeological materials, rare paintings, coins, lithographs, antique objects and various artifacts which are preserved in a medium sized museum in the Asiatic society. It was the earliest museum in the modern sense; in fact it was mother of the present National Museum at Kolkatta. The society is celebrating its 225 years of its existence. A yearlong programmer from January 2008 to January 2009 is being organized to celebrate its ideals and live up to reputation to study “ Whatever is performed by man and produced by nature” in the words of its founder Sir William Jones. This yearlong programme includes holding seminars, conferences, exhibitions and publication of significant volumes of lectures by eminent scholars on themes on paintings, human culture and science etc.
Asiatic Society not only takes keen interest in studying human culture, history, paintings and ancient manuscripts of Asia and Indian subcontinent its has taken keen interest to study subjects like mathematics, geology, botany, astronomy etc. The members included Sir C.V. Raman, J C Bose, and Meghanad Saha to name a few. Within ambit of the society they’re Medical Society, which organizes seminars and conferences on medical subjects of interest and publishes articles in the Journals of Asiatic society.
Sir Ronald Ross who discovered the mosquito vector for malaria in 1897 and was awarded the Nobel Prize most of his work at Secunderabad also a tiny part of his work was done at Kolkatta. To commemorate this great discovery during its 225 year of its celebration the Asiatic Society organized a day long seminar on malaria on 12 September 2008. The topics of discussion were life and work of Sir Ronald Ross. Also included in this seminar were “Current trends in the treatment of malaria”, “ Severe vivax malaria”. Impact of Environment malaria “ and “Transmission of malaria”
Dr. Sanjib Mohanty, Physician & Intensivist from our hospital was invited to speak on the “Current trends in the treatment of malaria’where he spoke about anti-malarial drugs, combination chemotherapy in uncomplicated malaria and the treatment of severe malaria. The lecture will also be published in the Journal of Asiatic society soon. The other speakers were Professor A Nandy of institute of tropical medicine and hygiene Kolkatta, Professor D. K Kochar professor of medicine Bikaner medical college and others
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