Royal Asiatic Society
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royalasiaticsoc.bsky.social
Royal Asiatic Society
@royalasiaticsoc.bsky.social
The Royal Asiatic Society provides a forum for those who are interested in the history, languages, cultures and religions of Asia to meet and exchange ideas. 14 Stephenson Way, London, NW1 2HD.
https://royalasiaticsociety.org/
🌲Join Dr Vayu Naidu for our upcoming lecture as she explores the importance and contemporary relevance of forest in the all-popular Indian epic tale #Ramayana.
Details: tinyurl.com/ras-251120
November 13, 2025 at 10:45 AM
For our upcoming lecture on 18 Nov, Prof Suranjan Das will trace the transformation of Cambridge and Oxford Majlis from student debating clubs into platforms for Indian nationalism.
Details: tinyurl.com/ras-251118 #indianhistory
November 11, 2025 at 12:21 PM
What lies on the third side of the coin? Join us for a discussion next Thursday with Joe Cribb, Robert Bracey and Marzbeen Jila to find out more! #coins #numismatics
November 6, 2025 at 11:56 AM
For this month's #MotM, we have this Malay manuscript relating to the Javanese divinatory calendar #pawukon, which is typically illustrated with intriguing illustrations in Javanese shadow puppet style. (Raffles Malay 41)
November 4, 2025 at 12:29 PM
🔍The Society's coin collection is now searchable in the online catalogue - read more about the collection in our latest blog post! #numismatics
royalasiaticsociety.org/reminder-for...
Reminder for Prize Submissions and Coin Catalogues Now Online
We begin this week’s blog post with a reminder to submit to two of the Society’s prizes, both currently accepting nominations. The first is the Charles H. Norchi Prize, awarded for the publication of ...
royalasiaticsociety.org
October 31, 2025 at 2:01 PM
On Friday 7 Nov, as part of our Japanese Studies lecture series, photographer and author Bashar Tabbah will take us on a visual tour of #Japan’s most incredible castles - join us in exploring the beauty of these architectural delights!
Details: tinyurl.com/ras-251107
October 30, 2025 at 11:51 AM
This evening!
How did the evolving climate impact civilisations in Asia throughout history? What role does it play in the future prosperity of Asia? Join us for a lecture by Prof Peter Clift from UCL Earth Sciences @es-ucl.bsky.social to find out more!

Details: tinyurl.com/ras-251030
October 30, 2025 at 11:25 AM
📢 Upcoming lectures and book launches at the RAS! All events are free and open to all. For details, visit: royalasiaticsociety.org/lectures-eve...
October 28, 2025 at 11:04 AM
New publication of a Persian moral miscellany, recap on October events and updates on our website - read more about these in our latest blogpost!

royalasiaticsociety.org/new-book-eve...
New Book, Event Recap and Website Refresh – Royal Asiatic Society
New Book We are delighted to announce the latest addition to our monograph series: The Picture Gallery (Nigaristan): A Persian Moral Miscellany. This new publication is the only known English translat...
royalasiaticsociety.org
October 24, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Tomorrow the 25th we will be joining other heritage professionals to explore Myanmar’s art and heritage at this free event co-organised by V&A and the British Museum. Join us to discover more about our Burmese manuscripts and the country’s other cultural traditions!
October 24, 2025 at 8:41 AM
This evening - join us at the RAS or online!
For our upcoming lecture on Thu 23 Oct, Prof Usha Vijailakshmi will explore the rich legacy and contemporary role of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai. Come join us!
Details: tinyurl.com/ras-251023
October 23, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Happy Diwali to everyone who is celebrating! This artwork depicts Lord Rama slaying the many-headed demon Ravana in battle, one of the legends connected to this popular Hindu festival. (Artwork 066.006)
October 21, 2025 at 9:29 AM
How did the evolving climate impact civilisations in Asia throughout history? What role does it play in the future prosperity of Asia? Join us for a lecture by Prof Peter Clift from UCL Earth Sciences @es-ucl.bsky.social to find out more!

Details: tinyurl.com/ras-251030
October 16, 2025 at 10:45 AM
For our upcoming lecture on Thu 23 Oct, Prof Usha Vijailakshmi will explore the rich legacy and contemporary role of the Asiatic Society of Mumbai. Come join us!
Details: tinyurl.com/ras-251023
October 14, 2025 at 11:37 AM
This evening! If you would like to join us online, email mb@royalasiaticsociety.org for a link.
Upcoming lecture on 9 October by Prof Tirthankar Roy on the debate over state building in Bengal and the wider institutional reforms in late-18th century India. Details: tinyurl.com/ras-251009
Prof Tirthankar Roy – Building a state in late-18th century India: Revisiting the Permanent Settlement debate
Date: 9 October 2025 (Thursday)
tinyurl.com
October 9, 2025 at 10:26 AM
For our upcoming lecture on Wed 22 Oct, Dr Liz Driver will take us back to early C19th #India and look at the achievements and failures of two Governors of Bombay and the Wellesley brothers.
Details: tinyurl.com/ras-251022
October 9, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Ringing bells, chanting voices, beating drums – there is a multitude of sounds accompanying the procession of an Indian prince in this drawing. Let’s bring on the music! (Artwork 050.001)
October 7, 2025 at 9:26 AM
New blogpost paying tribute to our member, Raymond Head, the creator of the Society's catalogue or art collections who sadly passed away last month: royalasiaticsociety.org/remembering-...
Remembering Raymond Head (1948–2025)
Friends of the Society may be aware that our member, Raymond Head, sadly passed away last month at the age of 77. Raymond first joined the Society in 1977 and was associated with the Society mainly th...
royalasiaticsociety.org
October 3, 2025 at 9:13 AM
🌟 What can your #zodiac sign tell you? Phrommachat is a type of Thai divination manual traditionally used for fortune-telling and match-making, and contains information about each of the 12 zodiac animals... (RAS Thai MS 10B)
October 2, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Upcoming lecture on 9 October by Prof Tirthankar Roy on the debate over state building in Bengal and the wider institutional reforms in late-18th century India. Details: tinyurl.com/ras-251009
Prof Tirthankar Roy – Building a state in late-18th century India: Revisiting the Permanent Settlement debate
Date: 9 October 2025 (Thursday)
tinyurl.com
September 30, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Latest blogpost on an interesting item in our Archives - a dinner menu for the 1889 International Congress of Orientalists. Check out how iconic dishes around the globe are celebrated in different ancient and modern Asian languages! royalasiaticsociety.org/language-and...
Language and Culinary Culture – Dinner Menu for International Congress of Orientalists
Some time ago, a researcher visited us to consult the papers of the International Congress of Orientalists held in our collections. Although these papers are classified as part of our institutional ar...
royalasiaticsociety.org
September 26, 2025 at 1:07 PM
An overview of what's on in October at the RAS - a series of exciting public lectures and book launch events coming up and we hope to see you there!

Details: royalasiaticsociety.org/lectures-eve...
September 25, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Happening this evening!
Upcoming lecture on Thursday, 25 Sept on the #Zoroastrian communities in India and Iran and Britain's role in their relationships in the early 20th century. Come and join us! Details: tinyurl.com/ras-20250925
September 25, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Did you know #PinkFloyd’s song ‘Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun’ has a connection with Chinese poetry? The line 'One inch of love is one inch of shadow' was inspired by a poem by Li Shangyin, translated into English by Welsh scholar Angus Charles Graham. (Archives ACG)
September 18, 2025 at 2:05 PM
The April edition of our Journal is now available online! Seven articles are free for anyone to read via Open Access. From Indian nationalism to the Islamic tradition of renunciant piety, we hope there will be something that inspires you!

royalasiaticsociety.org/april-editio...
April Edition of JRAS Now Available Online
I am pleased to say that the April edition of the 2025 Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society has now been made available online on Cambridge Core. Fellows of our Society enjoy free access to all curren...
royalasiaticsociety.org
September 16, 2025 at 10:03 AM