We bet you didn't know these facts about Mumbai's Asiatic Society!
Did you expect the Asiatic Society to be so cool after all? Read To Know More..
Deepika Joshi
Mumbai is home to one of the oldest literary societies of India. Established as the Literary Society of Bombay, it was established 211 years back on November 2, 1804
Not only is it one of the city’s gems, but it was also the reason why the Asiatic Society of Bengal was established. Sir James Mackintosh founded the Asiatic Society and then went on to influence Sir William James to establish the latter after over 20 years.
If you’re wondering what about the Asiatic Society could probably be so cool that you absolutely must know, then get ready to have you mind blown away!
One of the two original manuscripts of the Divine Comedy, written by Dante is preserved in the Asiatic Society. The original copies have survived, in 1930, Benito Mussolini, Italy’s fascist ruler offered around one million pounds to have the copy taken back to it’s homeland.
Apart from the 14th century manuscript of Dante’s Divine Comedy, the Asiatic Society near Hornimon Circle at Mumbai Fort also boasts of a 19th century manuscript of the Quran, Captain James Cooks Voyages to the South Pole.
Which also includes Around the World from 1777 among the hundreds and thousands of copies of books, over 10,000 rare coins and over a thousand maps.