Consider the following statements  1. In 1784, Henry Thomas Colebrooke founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal to encourage Oriental studies. 2. William Jones, the founder of Royal Asiatic Society, was described as "the great Sanskrit scholar in Europe" Which of the above statements is/are correct?

Option 4 : Neither 1 nor 2

The correct answer is Neither 1 nor 2.

• Jones and Colebrooke came to represent a particular attitude towards India. They shared a deep respect for ancient cultures, both of India and the West.
• William Jones was the founder of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and started a journal the Asiatik Researchers. Hence, Statement 1 is NOT correct.
  • In 1784 he founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal to encourage Oriental studies. He himself took up Sanskrit, to equip himself for the preparation of a vast digest of Hindu and Muslim law.
• Henry Thomas Colebrooke was associated with Royal Asiatic Society and Royal Astronomical Society.
  • He has been described as "the first great Sanskrit scholar in Europe." Hence, Statement 2 is NOT correct.
  • He was a director of the Royal Asiatic Society, and many of the papers in the society's Transactions were communicated by him.
  • In 1822 he was elected the second president of the Royal Astronomical Society.
  • After eleven years' residence in India, Colebrooke began the study of the Sanskrit language; and to him was entrusted the translation
    of the major Digest of Hindu Laws, a monumental study of Hindu law which had been left unfinished by Sir William Jones.