The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (RAS), founded in 1823, has long served as a hub for scholarly exchange and public engagement with the histories and cultures of Asia. Today, it continues as a learned society with members worldwide, engaging a global audience passionate about Asian studies.
The RAS library holds an important historical collection of books, manuscripts, archives, art, photos, and other media which document Asia’s rich diversity of cultures, peoples, and traditions.
“All our collections are available to view at our premises in London. But we know that many people are unable to come and see them in person. For that reason, we see digitization of the collections as a top priority, as it makes material more accessible to people across Asia and around the globe.”
What is in the RAS Library’s digital collection?
The RAS Digital Library offers a growing trove of digital reproductions spanning manuscripts, archives, artworks, and photos. Among its treasures are important manuscripts from India and maritime South East Asia, as well as a collection of akhbars – or court papers/newsletters – documenting the transactions of the court of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
Among the digitised collections, are also many artworks and photographs – rare photos of Tibet in the 1930s, and an early Indian example of the game Snakes and Ladders.
We know that this collection is important to audiences around the world and that it can provide a source of identity, meaning, inspiration, and enjoyment. The importance of these and other collections is reflected in the fact that the major sources of traffic to the Digital Library are countries in Asia such as India, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The RAS welcomes partnerships and other opportunities to promote its collections and services. These help us reach a wider audience and hear what new voices have to say about what the Society’s collections mean to them. For that reason, we’re happy to work with The Heritage Lab to help emerging researchers and curators from the UK and India as they develop digital stories and fresh perspectives on South Asia-related collections housed in British institutions.
Dr. Edward Weech, Librarian, Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland
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