LITMAN, Aleksej Davydovič. v. m. Staraja Sinjava, Podol’sk. gub. 27.12.1923 — 21.8.1992. Russian Marxist Philosopher specializing in India. Son of a civil servant. In 1941-45 in Red Army. Graduated 1950 from Philosophical Faculty of Moscow University. Kand. filos. nauk 1956. Dr. filos. nauk 1975. In 1951-56 Secretary in Tadzhik Academy.…
LINWOOD, William. Birmingham 1817 — Staffordshire 7.9.1878. Rev. British Classical Scholar. Son of William L., a merchant, and Mary Iliffe Swinton. After Birmingham grammar school studied Classics and Sanskrit at Oxford (Christ Church) from 1836 (won 1839 Boden Sanskrit Scholarship). B.A. 1839, M.A. 1842. He took orders and taught at…
LEYDEN, Rudolf von. Berlin 8.8.1908 — Vienna 25.3.1983. German Geologist. Son of Victor von Leyden, a lawyer. As a geologist travelled in India and became interested in art, especially in playing cards. Fleeing Nazis as a Marxist he settled in Bombay (1940-53) socializing with Indian artists and making modern Indian…
LEVERTOV, Priscilla Denise. Ilford, London 24.10.1923 — Seattle 20.12.1997. British-born poetess in the U.S.A. Daughter of Paul L. a Russian Hashidic Jew, who took Christianity, moved to the U.K. and became Anglican priest. Her mother was Beatrice Adelaide Spooner-Jones. Educated at home. In 1947 she married American Mitchell Goodman (1923–1997),…
LELIKOV, Leonid Arkad’evič. Tomsk 3.1.1934 — 12.5.1988. Russian Historian of Iran. Son of a Civil Servant. Graduated 1958 from Moscow International Pedagogical Institute. Kand. ist. nauk 1975. In practical work (?) 1957-67, then naučnyj sotrudnik at Soviet Scientific Institute. Publications: About 100 publications, kand. diss. Istorija monumental’n. živopisi drevn. i…
LEIDECKER, Kurt Friedrich. Gera 11.9.1902 — Fredericksburg, Va. 17.11.1991. U.S. (of German origin) Scholar of Comparative Religion. U.S. Citizen. Professor in Fredericksburg. In 1920 immigrated to the U.S.A., first studied botany, soon philosophy and Sanskrit. B.A. 1924 and M.A. 1925 Oberlin College. Ph.D. 1927 University of Chicago, in Sanskrit. In…
LEGGETT, Trevor Pryce. London 22.8.1914 — London 2.8.2000. British Author interested in Indian and Japanese Thought. Son of Ernest Lewis Leggett, a violinist, and Isobel Mabel Pryce. Studies of law at London University (graduated 1934). From 1936 Yoga disciple of Hari Prasad Shastri (d. 1956) in England for 18 years.…
LAUENSTEIN, Diether. Herford 8.4.1914 — Windhoek, Namibia 28.12.1990. German Student of Indology, Anthroposophist. Of modest background. In 1934-38 studied Theology at Tübingen, also Sanskrit under Nobel at Marburg. After one year at seminary of Christengemeinschaft (Christian sect, close to anthroposophy) served in army, but was wounded and lost one leg.…
LATHAM, Robert Gordon. Billingborough, Lincolnshire 24.3.1812 — Putney, London 9.3.1888. British Ethnologist and Linguist. Son of Thomas L., a vicar, educated at Eton and Cambridge (B.A. 1833, M.A. 1836). Further studies in Copenhagen (under Rask) and Christiania (now Oslo). From 1839 Professor of English Language at University College, London, but…
LANMAN, Charles Rockwell. Norwich, Conn. 8.7.1850 — Belmont, Mass. 20.2. 1941. U.S. Indologist. Professor in Cambridge, Mass. Son of Peter Lanman III (1807–1886), a textile manufacturer, and Catherine Cook (1814–1854), lost early his mother. Educated at Norwich Free Academy (graduated 1867) and Yale College (A.B. 1871). Then further studies of…