[INDOLOGY] Johannes Bronkhorst

[Patrick Olivelle]

Dear All:

I have taken some time to process this shattering news. Thank you all for sharing your memories and eulogies of Johannes.

I have been a friend and colleague of Johaness for, I don’t know, may be thirty or so years. We met over the years at various conferences and meetings. I invited him to Austin for the workshop that resulted in the volume “Between the Empires,” and he was always a perceptive and friendly participant. What I remember most is the time he spect in Austin and at my home when we had him over to discuss his book “Greater Magadha” in my graduate seminar focused on his book. He took criticism well (American graduate students can sometime be brutal in their assessments of scholarship!) and with a smile, and was always able to defend himself without being defensive. We remained good friends even when we disagreed on scholarly matters. Fondly remember him at a conference in Krakow, Poland, when I and my wife enjoyed Polish food with Johannes.

He left as he lived, on his own terms. RIP.

Patrick Olivelle