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Johannes Bronkhorst | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1946-07-17)17 July 1946 (age 79) Schiedam, Netherlands |
| Died | 14 May 2025 |
| Occupations |
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| Known for | Greater Magadha |
| Academic background | |
| Education | |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | University of Lausanne |
| Main interests | Early Buddhism |
Johannes Bronkhorst (born 17 July 1946, inSchiedam, d. 14 May 2025) was aDutchOrientalist andIndologist, specializing inSanskrit grammar,Buddhist studies andearly Buddhism. He was Professor of Sanskrit and Indian studies at theUniversity of Lausanne from 1987--2011, and thereafteremeritus professor until his death in 2025.
After studying Mathematics, Physics, and Astronomy at theVrije Universiteit inAmsterdam (B.Sc. 1968), he moved toIndia, where he turned toSanskrit andPāli, first at theUniversity of Rajasthan (Jaipur), then theUniversity of Pune (M.A. 1976, Ph.D. 1979). InPune he read with traditional Sanskrit scholars, specialising in Sanskrit grammar andIndian philosophy. Back in the Netherlands, he did a seconddoctorate (1980) at theUniversity of Leiden. Having worked for research projects funded by theNederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, he was appointed in 1987 to the position of Professor of Sanskrit and Indian studies at the University of Lausanne. He retired in 2011, being appointed Professor Emeritus.
Johannes and his wife Joy Manné Lewis died on 14 May 2025.[1]
Bronkhorst has concentrated on the history of Indian thought and published on a wide range of topics, including indigenous grammar andlinguistics, the interaction betweenBrahmanism,Buddhism, andJainism and their philosophical schools and religious practices. A key output of this work appeared in his monographGreater Magadha (2007).[2] The book has been reviewed by several scholars including Jason Neelis[3] and Alexander Wynne.[4] Some of Bronkhort's publications address larger questions relating to the theory and study of religion. The website of the University of Lausanne provides access to some of his work.[5]
Bronkhorst was amongst the most prolific scholarly authors of his time, publishing many articles, and often one or two books, every year. His many historical insights and challenges to received theories fundamentally changed the scholarly conversation regarding many aspects of Indian history and culture. Bronkhorst was strongly influenced by the thought ofKarl Popper, particularly in regard to the importance of proposing strong hypotheses and accepting valid criticisms, and Popper's ideas about the centrality offalsifiability to the growth of knowledge.
Bronkhorst became a corresponding member of theRoyal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1996.[6]
