VENIS, Arthur (born Arthur Venis Lazarus). 4.10.1857 — 5.6.1918. British (Scottish) Educator and Indologist in India. Professor in Varanasi and Allahabad. Son of Edward John Lazarus, a converted Jew with Indian background, a physician also interested in Sanskrit. After studies at Edinburgh and Oxford (Balliol College, B.A. 1878, M.A. 1885) he joined Indian Educational Service in 1881 and became Professor of English Literature at Queen’s College in Benares. From 1888 Professor of Philosophy and Principal of Sanskrit College in Benares, from 1897-1914 Principal of Queen’s College. In 1914-18 Professor of Post-Vedic Sanskrit at University of Allahabad. Hon. D.Litt. C.I.E. 1911. Married Catherine De Hoxar, at least one son and one daughter.

Venis was a specialist of Indian philosophy, especially of Vedānta. The main part of his work consists of text editions.

Publications: Edited and translated: Dharmarāja’s Vedāntaparibhāṣā, Pandit N.S. 4-7, 1882-85; Vidyāraṇya Mādhava’s Pañcadaśī, Pandit 5-8, 1883-86; Prakāśānanda’s Vedāntasiddhānta-muktāvalī, Pandit 11-12, 1889-90, 186+6 p.

– Edited with commentary: Udayana’s Lakṣaṇāvalī, Pandit 21-22, 1899-1900; Varadarāja’s Tārkikarakṣā, Pandit 21-25, 1899-1903 (as book 1906).

– Translated: Appayya Dīkṣita’s Siddhāntaleśasaṁgraha, Pandit 21-25, 1899-1903 (incomplete); Padmapāda’s Pañcapādikā, Pandit 23, 1901 & 25, 1903.

– Articles on epigraphy (EI 2, 1894, 347-358 & 10, 1909-10, 44-49; JASB N.S. 2, 1906, 445–447; 3, 1907, 1-7; 4, 1908, 459-462; JRAS 1910, 813-815 & 1912, 701-703).

Sources: Who Was Who 1916–1928; Wikipedia.