The Asiatic Society of Bengal' was founded by Sir William Jones in the year

The Asiatic Society was founded by Sir William Jones, a British lawyer and Orientalist, on January 15, 1784. The institution was established in Calcutta (now Kolkata) with the support of the then Governor-General, Warren Hastings. Its primary objective was to promote "Oriental studies"—specifically the study of the history, antiquities, arts, sciences, and literature of Asia. Sir William Jones served as its first president. The society played a crucial role in the discovery and translation of ancient Indian texts, such as the Abhijnanashakuntalam, into English, significantly influencing the European understanding of Indian heritage. Other dates like 1791 are associated with the founding of the Sanskrit College at Varanasi by Jonathan Duncan.