POWELL, John H. 1858? — 19??. Rev. British (?) Clergyman (but in Folklore called Mr.), probably worked in India. M.A. Observed the hook-swinging in May 1912 in a village in Manbhum district, Chota Nagpur. Publications: “‘Hook-Swinging’ in India”, Folklore 25, 1914, 147-197; occasional notes on India in Man. Sources: Nothing further found.
POWELL, Eyre Burton. Brecknockshire, Wales 1818/19 — Streatham, London 10.11.1904. British Civil Servant in India. Son of the elder E. B. Powell (1795–1859) and Elizabeth Labeste, studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge (B.A. 1840, M.A. 1857). In 1848 (or 1840?) joined Madras Civil Service. Worked as teacher, finally Principal of Presidency…
POLE, John (de La Pole). 18?? — 19??. British Planter in Sri Lanka. In 1913 book his address was Scarborough Estate, Maskeliya, Ceylon and historyofceylontea.com on Scarborough Estate tells that he was Assistant Manager there in 1909-12. A likely candidate is found in thepeerage.com (with some additional derails in ancestry.com):…
POCHHAMMER, Wilhelm von. Berlin 27.1.1892 — Bremen 13.11.1982. German Diplomat and Historian of Modern India. Son of an officer, Major-General Erich Viktor von Pochhammer (1860–1914), of Prussian nobility and Hanna Toecke-Mittler. After school in Berlin and Stettin studied law at Freiburg i.Br., Marburg, Munich and Bonn, where he befriended with…
PLAYFAIR, Alan. Algiers, Vryburg, Cape Province 15.6.1868 — Victoria, Vancouver Island, British Columbia 30.9.1952. British Colonial Officer in India. Son of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Robert Lambert Playfair (1828–1899) of Madras army and Agnes Rankin Webster (1832–1918). Served as Deputy Commissioner in Assam. Major (1909), then Lieutenant-Colonel. Retired 1921 and moved to…
PLAESCHKE, Herbert Karl Alfred. Wismar 1.6.1928 — Halle 29.12.2002. German (East) Indologist and Art Historian. Son of Alfred Plaeschke (1894–1981), a book dealer, and Margarete Möller. Studies of Oriental archaeology (H. Mode) and Indology (Ammer) at Halle, graduated 1959. Dr.phil. 1963 Halle. Dr.sc. 19??. PD 1971 Halle. Worked as wiss. Mitarbeiter…
PINKHAM, Mildred Worth. 1897 — 19??. U.S. (?). Spent many years in India. Her 1941 book was published by Columbia University Press. Publications: A Bungalow in India: intimate glimpses of Indian life and people. N.Y. 1928. – Woman in the Sacred Scriptures of Hinduism. 12+239 p. N.Y. 1941 (based on Sanskrit texts). Sources: Books…
PIGNÈDE, Bernard. Paris 16.3.1932 — 21.11.1961, when 29. French Anthropologist of Nepal. Studies in Paris (É.P.H.É.), under L. Dumont, in 1958 seven months fieldwork among Gurungs in Nepal. Died in an accident before his only book appeared. In a review Fürer-Haimendorf praises its scholarly approach, although he conducted his fieldwork…
PHELPS, John. Baltimore 25.7.1873 — Mitchellville, Prince George’s County, Maryland 16.12.1955. U.S. Lawyer and Classical Scholar. Son of Brigadier-General Charles E. Phelps (1833–1908) and Martha Woodward. B.A. 1894 Johns Hopkins. Worked as attorney in Baltimore, but kept a lifelong interest in classics and linguistics. Twice married, with Anna Turner (1876–1955)…
PETTIGREW, William. Edinburgh 5.1.1869 — 19.1.1943. Rev. British Missionary in India. Son of a sea captain, lost early his mother and father remarried, grew up in a strict Anglican family. Decided early to become a missionary and completed High School at Ardington Aborigines Mission Training Centre. Arrived in India in…