HORSCH, Paul. Oberegg, Canton Appenzell 9.9.1925 — Mahabalipuram, India 27.12.1971. Swiss Indologist. Professor in Zürich. Son of Otto H., a chemist, educated 1932-42 at local school, 1941-43 at Appenzell Gymnasium and 1943-46 at Cantonal School in Zug. Studies of Indology, history of religion and philosophy at Fribourg (under Regamey) and from 1947 in Paris (Bloch, Lacombe, Renou) and 1951-52 at Cambridge. In 1952-56 taught French language and literature at Santiniketan, himself studied Indology under Bagchi and Liebenthal. Travelled in different parts of India and Sri Lanka. From 1956 further studies of Chinese and Tibetan at Lausanne, from 1957 at Marburg (Nobel). From 1959 PD at Zürich, in 1967-71 apl. Professor für Indologie there. Also taught at C. G. Jung Institute. Married 1968 Irmgard Odenthal (dr.med.). Drowned in sea before Mahabalipuram in an unsuccesful attempt to save his wife from the same destiny.

Horsch was a many-sided scholar, who was mainly interested in Indian religions and philosophy. Himself a Schopenhauerian philosopher. He knew many languages, but was no linguist. His main work is the monumental Vedische Gāthā und Śloka-Literatur.

Publications: Diss. La notion d’upādhi dans la philosophie de Śankara. 300 p. Manuscript, P. 1951; Habil.diss. Die Dharmatheorie in der buddhistischen Philosophie. 260 p. Manuscript 1959.

– “Le principe d’individuation dans la philosophie indienne”, As.St./ Ét.as. 10, 1956, 79-104 & 11, 1957/58, 29-41 & 119-142.

– “The Wheel: An Indian Pattern of World-Interpretation”, Fs. Liebenthal 1957, 62-79; “Profanes Wissensgut im vedischen Literaturkreis”, As.St./Ét.as. 14, 1961, 93-124; “Die Kaṭhopaniṣad und der ältere Buddhismus”, WZHalle 10:6, 1404-1410; “Vedische Gāthās und ślokas”, WZKS 6, 1962, 1-14; “Aja Ekapād und die Sonne”, IIJ 9:1, 1965, 1-31; “Buddhismus und Upaniṣaden”, Pratidānam Kuiper 1968, 462-477.

– “The Self in Analytical Psychology”, Psychologia 4:3, 1961, 147-155; “Erotik und Religion”, As. St./Ét.as. 18-19, 1965, 359-372; “Zur Symbolik der orientalischen Religionen”, As. St./Ét.as. 24, 1970, 129-140.

– “Buddha’s erste Meditation”, As. St./Ét.as. 17, 1964, 100-154.

– “Soziologisches zur altindischen Namenskunde”, As. St./Ét.as. 18-19, 1965, 227-246

– Die vedische Gāthā und Śloka-Literatur. 523 p. Schriften der schweizerischen geisteswiss. Ges. 6. Bern 1966.

– “Vom Schöpfungsmythos zum Weltgesetz”, As.St./ Ét.as. 21, 1967, 31-61; “Der Hinduismus und die Religionen der Primitivstämme”, As. St./Ét.as. 22, 1968, 115-136; “Vorstufen der indischen Seelenwanderungslehre”, As. St./Ét.as. 25, 1971, 99-157.

– Brief articles and many reviews in Visv. Q., As.St., OLZ, etc.

Sources: A. Bigger in Web HistLexSchweiz; W. Rau, As.St./Ét.as. 26, 1972, 1-8 & *Neue Zürcher Zeitung 4.1.1972; C. Regamey, As.St./Ét.as. 25, 1971, i-xi; Stache-Rosen 1990, 249f.; briefly in IIJ 9:1, 1965, 83f. and D.B.E. 5, 1997, 182; photo in Rau 134.