KRISTIANSEN, Knut. 16.5.1928 — Oslo Early July 1999 (when 71). Norwegian Indo-Iranian Linguist. Grew up in Raufoss. Student of Morgenstierne at Oslo. From 1971 until his retirement in 1998 taught Hindi, Urdu and other South Asian languages as Universitetslektor at University of Oslo. Several visits to South Asia. Murdered by an intruder in his flat. He was a specialist of Dardic and of Romani language, with a wide knowledge of other fields (including Sanskrit), but published very little. At the time of his death he was cataloguing the papers of Morgenstierne. He lived alone, was last seen in 4th or 5th July and found dead 20.7.1999.

Publications: With Lars Gjerde: The Orange of Love and Other Stories: The Rom-Gypsy Language in Norway. 305 p. Oslo 1994.

– A few articles and reviews, e.g. “A Káfir on the Káfir Life Cycle”, Fs. N. Simonsson 1986, 145-158.

Sources: L. M. Fosse, brief obituary in Indology List 4.8.1999; Norwegian Ẃikipedia.