[INDOLOGY] Ashok Aklujkar passed away

Wed Oct 28 18:09:51 UTC 2026

This is indeed a major loss for Sanskrit studies, and a very sad one. He
was a man as generous and kind as he was brilliant. I'll never forget the
delightful occasion at the AOS when he read a portion of his ingenious
Sanskrit translation of the Jabberwocky.  My condolences to Vidyut and his
children. Ashok has been missed these past several years and now he will be
missed forever.

Jim Fitzgerald

On Wed, Oct 28, 2026 at 12:07 PM Radha Blinderman via INDOLOGY <
indology at list.indology.info> wrote:

> Dear All,
>
> I am so sad to hear about this immeasurable loss! I remember how gracious
> and supportive Professor Aklujkar and his wife were when I told them about
> my dissertation project years ago. My Sanskrit world has become so much
> smaller. Prayers for his family and close friends to get through this pain.
>
> Radhika
>
> On Wed, Oct 28, 2026 at 11:50 AM Frank F Conlon via INDOLOGY <
> indology at list.indology.info> wrote:
>
>> Dear colleagues
>>
>> This is terribly sad news. While recognizing that Ashok was a giant among
>> Sanskrit scholars I think it should be mentioned also that he was a pillar
>> of South Asian studies in the Pacific Northwest. A regular participant and
>> the supporter of SACPAN  the South Asia Colloquium (now Conference) of the
>> Pacific Northwest.
>>
>> If someone could share the current email address for Vidyut it would be
>> appreciated
>>
>> Frank Conlon
>> University of Washington
>>
>> Get Outlook for Android <https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* INDOLOGY <indology-bounces at list.indology.info> on behalf of
>> Raffaele Torella via INDOLOGY <indology at list.indology.info>
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, 28 October 2026 09:03:27
>> *To:* J P Olivelle <jpo at austin.utexas.edu>
>> *Cc:* Indology List <indology at list.indology.info>
>> *Subject:* Re: [INDOLOGY] Ashok Aklujkar passed away
>>
>>
>> I fondly remember the month we spent together in Rome along with Vidyut
>> when I invited him as visiting professor at Sapienza. On that occasion I
>> discovered the other face of Ashok: not only a monument of Sanskrit
>> learning but also a charming and witty person. After using for years his
>> Sanskrit textbook for my classes, with his kind permission I prepared an
>> Italian adoptation of it which is still widely used in Italian
>> universities. So to Italian students Ashok Aklujkar and Sanskrit are one
>> and the same thing. Farewell, dear friend…
>>
>> Raffaele Torella
>>
>> Il giorno 28 ott 2026, alle ore 12:44, Patrick Olivelle via INDOLOGY <
>> indology at list.indology.info> ha scritto:
>>
>> So sad to hear this news, Madhav. I have had a close relationship with
>> Ashok. Before he retired he invited me to give a series of talks at UBC and
>> Suman and I got to meet their daughter and to appreciate their parenting
>> skills. We will miss him, and his death is a big loss for the field. Warmly,
>>
>> Patrick Olivelle
>>
>>
>>
>> On Oct 27, 2026, at 9:27 PM, Madhav Deshpande via INDOLOGY <
>> indology at list.indology.info> wrote:
>>
>> I just now read a message from Shrikant Bahulkar that Ashok Aklujkar
>> passed away today. I knew from Vidyut Aklujkar that Ashok had a hip
>> replacement surgery and he was in hospital taking somewhat longer time to
>> recover. But I did not expect to hear this sad news. I also received a
>> message from Vidyut just a minute ago. I knew Ashok from my highschool days
>> in Pune. He was four-five years ahead of me. Later we became very close
>> friends for a lifetime. A very big loss to the field of Sanskrit studies.
>> May he rest in peace.
>>
>> Madhav M. Deshpande
>> Professor Emeritus, Sanskrit and Linguistics
>> University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
>> Senior Fellow, Oxford Center for Hindu Studies
>> Adjunct Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore,
>> India
>>
>> [Residence: Campbell, California, USA]
>>
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>>
>> Prof. Raffaele Torella
>> Emeritus Professor of Sanskrit
>> Sapienza University of Rome
>> wwwuniroma1.academia.edu/raffaeletorella
>>
>>
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