CHIANG MAI, Thailand-- The complex cultures of Asia have always attracted the interest of Western scholars. This is the origin of what came to be later known as "Learned Societies," institutions based on intellectual curiosity and a deep-rooted volunteer spirit.
The first among many "Asiatic Societies" was established in Calcutta in 1784, by an enlightened British High Court judge, Sir William Jones, who was wholeheartedly dedicated to Asian research. This was the famous Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal. In time, several other such centers emerged in Malaysia, Korea, Japan, China, Thailand, Bangladesh and elsewhere.
The bulk of the pioneers consisted of diplomats, teachers and missionaries, mostly British but soon from many other countries, who wished to conduct research on cultural topics in the countries of their assignment. Thirst for knowledge, independent of academic structures and degrees, was their main motivation.