RITTER, Pavlo Grigorovič (Russian Pavel Grigor’evič Ritter). Čutove, Poltava obl. 5.4.1872 — 17.4.1939. Ukrainian Indologist, Literary Historian, Critic, etc. Professor in Harkiv. Son of the manager of a landed estate. Studies at Harkiv under Ovsjaniko-Kulikovskij, mainly Slavic, but also Sanskrit. Graduated 1894. Further studies of Sanskrit in 1895-96 under Geldner in Germany, now also learned Pāli and Bengali and started study on the Daśakumāracarita. PD 1900 Harkiv, taught also Sanskrit, in 1921 succeeded Ovsjaniko-Kulikovskij as Professor at Harkiv University, until his death. Hon. Dr.Lit. 1929. He is known of his translations of ancient and modern Indian classics in Ukrainian and Russian. Finally arrested and executed by N.K.V.D.

Publications: At least 100 items:

– “Čto takoe sanskrit? (Probnaja lekcija)”, Zap. imp. Har’k. univ. 1900:2, 1-12.

– Kratkij kurs sanskritskoj grammatiki. 112 p. Har’kov 1904; Sanskrit. 135 p. Har’kov 1916.

– Translated into Russian: “Oblako-vestnik (Meghadûta), drevneindijskaja èlegija Kalidasy”, Sbornik statej v čest’ prof. V. P. Buzeskula. Har’kov 1914, 543-586 & sep. 46 p. H. 1914, new ed. 1958; Dandin: Pohoždenija Desjati Junošej. 2+168 p. Har’kov 1928 (a specimen in Shidnij svit 1927:1, 155-161 & 2, 29-80).

– Translated into Ukrainian: Hmara-vistun (Megha-dûta). Staroindijs’ka elegija Kalidasi. 48 p. Harkiv 1929, new ed. 1958; “Bhartrhari, Virši”, Shidnij svit 1928:3-4, 259-263; Kalidas, Ščjakuntala. 223 p. Kiiv 1958.

– An anthology of Indian literature; also translated Tagore.

Sources: Bongard-Levin & Vigasin 102f.; Miliband 1977; *O. Ohnieva (Ogneva), “Biografija Pavla Rittera”, Shindiy svim (The World of the Orient) 2023:3, 5-24 with further references and two photos (in Ukrainian); *Vigasin 2008, 203f.; Ukrains’ka radjans’ka enciklopedija 12, 1963; *Professor P.G.R. (1872–1939). Zbirnik biografičnih ta bibliografičnih materialiv. 98 p. Harkiv 1966; brief account with photo in Internet encyclopedia of Ukraine; *Ukrainain Vikipedija with photo.