Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland The Society provides a forum for those who are interested in the history, languages, cultures and re

The Society provides a forum for those who are interested in the history, languages, cultures and beliefs of Asia to meet and exchange ideas. It offers lectures and seminars and it provides facilities for research and publishing.The RAS is not only for scholars and we welcome applications for Fellowship of the Society from anyone with a serious interest in Asian Studies. Fellows recieve the journa

l four times a year, may use the library, attend lectures and participate in general meetings. If you are interested please email the Director Alison Ohta
on this address: [email protected]

[Upcoming event]It is often claimed that European Roma populations trace their origins to India. In our upcoming lecture...
16/06/2026

[Upcoming event]

It is often claimed that European Roma populations trace their origins to India. In our upcoming lecture, Dr Avishek Ray from National Institute of Technology, Silchar will critically examine this widely circulated assertion and explore how such narratives shape knowledge production, authority, and the politics of representation.

📅 25 June (Thursday) - 6.30pm BST
📌 14 Stephenson Way, NW1 2HD
✨ Free and open to all
🌏 In-person and online

Details: https://royalasiaticsociety.org/event/dr-avishek-ray-epistemology-of-roma-origins-india-and-the-question-of-academic-authority/

[Upcoming event]On Wednesday 18 June, we are celebrating the launch of Michael Dillon’s new book on Shanghai, which trac...
09/06/2026

[Upcoming event]

On Wednesday 18 June, we are celebrating the launch of Michael Dillon’s new book on Shanghai, which traces the city’s evolution from a small fishing village into a thriving cultural and financial hub.

Dillon will be joined by Professor Kerry Brown of King’s College London for a conversation about the book – come and join us!

📅 18 June (Thursday) - 6.30pm BST
📌 14 Stephenson Way, NW1 2HD
✨ Free and open to all
🌏 In-person and online

Details: https://royalasiaticsociety.org/event/michael-dillon-book-launch-a-comprehensive-new-history-of-shanghai-revealing-its-vital-place-in-chinese-history-and-politics-across-the-centuries/

[Upcoming event]On Wednesday 17 June, Dr Lydia Walker, winner of the 2024 James J. Busuttil Medal for Human Rights, will...
04/06/2026

[Upcoming event]

On Wednesday 17 June, Dr Lydia Walker, winner of the 2024 James J. Busuttil Medal for Human Rights, will deliver a lecture connected to her award‑winning book 'States‑in‑Waiting: A Counternarrative of Global Decolonization'.

Join us to explore the complexities of decolonisation claims within postcolonial states and to celebrate Dr Walker’s achievement!

📅 17 June (Wednesday) - 6.30pm BST
📌 14 Stephenson Way, NW1 2HD
✨ Free and open to all
🌏 In-person and online

Details: https://royalasiaticsociety.org/event/lydia-walker-beyond-states-in-waiting-rights-recognition-and-sovereignty-in-south-asia-and-the-world

[Upcoming event]What governs life in a forest?In our upcoming lecture, Dr Megnaa Mehtta, Lecturer in Social Anthropology...
28/05/2026

[Upcoming event]

What governs life in a forest?

In our upcoming lecture, Dr Megnaa Mehtta, Lecturer in Social Anthropology at UCL Social & Historical Sciences, invites us deep into the Sundarbans, one of the world’s largest mangrove forests located in the Bengal Delta.

Watchful deities and bureaucratic laws. Seen and unseen forces. Join us to discover the diverse sovereigns that shape everyday life in this extraordinary landscape!

📅 11 June (Thursday) - 6.30pm BST
📌 14 Stephenson Way, NW1 2HD
✨ Free and open to all
🌏 In-person and online

Details: https://royalasiaticsociety.org/event/dr-megnaa-mehtta-title-tba/

[Upcoming event]An extraordinary fragment of blue parchment with gold Qur’anic text surfaced at the British Library in 2...
21/05/2026

[Upcoming event]

An extraordinary fragment of blue parchment with gold Qur’anic text surfaced at the British Library in 2024 – and it’s raising a thrilling question: could it be part of the legendary 9th–10th century Blue Qur’an?

Curator Daniel Lowe and conservation scientist Lucia Noor Melita take us inside the mystery. Join us to explore the evidence and the story behind this remarkable find!

Details: https://royalasiaticsociety.org/event/daniel-lowe-title-tba/

📅 2 June (Tuesday) - 6.30pm BST
📌 14 Stephenson Way, NW1 2HD
✨ Free and open to all
🌏 In-person and online

To attend online, register at bit.ly/4dUlNFw

[Upcoming event]On Thursday 21 May we’ll be celebrating the launch of Jonathan Orr’s new book, ‘Imperial Rule in India’....
12/05/2026

[Upcoming event]

On Thursday 21 May we’ll be celebrating the launch of Jonathan Orr’s new book, ‘Imperial Rule in India’.

Through the stories of four remarkable Irish administrators in the East India Company, Orr’s book opens a window into the complex world of 19th century colonial rule in India – and the people who shaped it. Join us for a talk to discover more!

📅 21 May (Thursday) - 6.30pm BST
📌 14 Stephenson Way, NW1 2HD
✨ Free and open to all
🌏 In-person and online

Details: https://royalasiaticsociety.org/event/imperial-rule-in-india-paternal-governance-and-conquest-under-the-lawrences-and-montgomery

To attend online, register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_bpMfzkSWR4O1iwILPKSRvQ #/registration

[Upcoming event]To wrap up our Japan Lecture Series, we’re excited to welcome Professor Simon Kaner, Executive Director ...
05/05/2026

[Upcoming event]

To wrap up our Japan Lecture Series, we’re excited to welcome Professor Simon Kaner, Executive Director of Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures, for a special talk on Thursday 14 May.

He’ll explore 150 years of European entanglement in Japanese archaeology and uncover the role played by Europeans in the early stages of Japanese archaeology – a fascinating story of collaboration, curiosity, and cultural exchange!

Details: https://royalasiaticsociety.org/event/agm-japan-series-closing-lecture-prof-simon-kaner-towards-150-years-of-japanese-archaeology-and-its-broader-asian-connections/

📅 14 May (Thursday) - 6.30pm BST
📌 14 Stephenson Way, NW1 2HD
✨ Free and open to all
🌏 In-person and online

To attend online, email [email protected] for a link.

This lecture is part of our Japanese Studies lecture series co-organised with the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures and the Courtauld Institute of Art.

♟️ The Tamerlane Chess is a medieval chess variant originated in the Timurid Empire. Featuring more complex rules and ad...
01/05/2026

♟️ The Tamerlane Chess is a medieval chess variant originated in the Timurid Empire. Featuring more complex rules and additional pieces than modern chess, the game enjoyed great popularity in the court of Timur during the 14th century.

This Persian manuscript is a rare treatise outlining the rules of the Tamerlane Chess, complemented with over 60 pages of illustrations depicting various chess problems.

A perfect time to highlight this gem this month: the manuscript is now featured in the ‘Game On!’ exhibition at in Toronto, celebrating the art, culture, and spirit of games across history. If you’re in the city, it’s absolutely worth a visit. The exhibition runs until 7 September 2026.

📜 Manuscript RAS Persian 211

timur GameOnExhibition AgaKhanMuseum

Address

14 Stephenson Way
London
NW12HD

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organisation

Send a message to Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland:

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category