This news hits me like a bolt from the blue. Johannes Bronkhorst was one of those whose departure from this world was hardly imaginable, so powerful was his presence in the field of Indian studies.
We very often discussed our respective researches, and he always agreed to contribute to volumes to which I invited him to speak, the later being the essay he gave in 2024 for le Bulletin d’études indiennes, a felicitation volume in honor of Prof. Marie-Claude
Porcher.
Long ago, when I was still a beginner in the field, he very kindly invited me to Lausanne for a conference on Indian theatricality. From then on, a sincere friendship was sealed, graciously shared by Joy, his wife.
The photograph that Herman Tieken sent us is a perfect snapshot of our colleague and friend:
although his back is to the viewer, whoever knew Johannes can easily imagine, with his arms wide open, the jovial smile with which he is accompanying his speech at that very moment, a smile reflected in that of the pujari.
Sāptapadīnam, my friend
Lyne Bansat-Boudon
Directeur d'études pour les Religions de l'Inde
Ecole pratique des hautes études, section des sciences religieuses
Membre senior honoraire de l'Institut universitaire de France
De : INDOLOGY <indology-bounces@list.indology.info> de la part de Madhav Deshpande via INDOLOGY <indology@list.indology.info>
Envoyé : mercredi 14 mai 2025 22:07
À : Harry Falk <falk@zedat.fu-berlin.de>
Cc : indology@list.indology.info <indology@list.indology.info>
Objet : Re: [INDOLOGY] Johannes Bronkhorst gone
I am so sorry to hear Johannes's demise. He was a very close friend. We communicated frequently. He visited us in Michigan and I visited him in Lausanne. I was hoping to see him in Oxford next month. Feel very sad. Goodbye dear
friend. Rest in peace.
Madhav
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]
Dear friends and colleagues,
I have just received the news that Johannes Bronkhorst left this world
today at noon in a controlled manner, as was his custom, together with his
beloved wife Joy Manné.
He sent the last batch of his papers just a few days ago. He will be
remembered as an innovative and inspired scientist, a cheerful person and
a true and dear friend.
Sadly.
Harry Falk
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