RAMPOLLA DEL TINDARO, Mariano. Polizzi Generosa, Palermo 26.10.1893 — Rome 21.10.1945. Monsignor. Italian Indologist. Born in a Sicilian noble family. Student of O. Nazari at Palermo, then at Università Gregoriana in Rome. Ordained priest 1920. With his early interest in India he planned a missionary career. Instead, from 1933 he…
RABIN, Chaim Menachem. Giessen 22.11.1915 — Jerusalem 13.5.1996. Israeli (born in Germany) Linguist and Semitic Scholar. Son of Russian Jewish historian Israel Rabin (1882–1951) and Martel Wolodarsky. Educated in Frankfurt a. M., after matriculation in 1933 moved to Jerusalem.. In 1933-34 studies at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, then at S.O.A.S.…
QUIN, Ernest Gordon (Earnán Ó Cuinn). Dublin 9.6.1910 — 29.8.1986. Irish Linguist also familiar with Sanskrit. Son of Ernest Samuel Quin, From 1934 Lecturer in Sanskrit at Trinity College, Dublin, finally 1975-77 Senior Dean there. Probably taught Irish, too. Publications: Wrote on Old Irish language and lexicography, e.g. Old-Irish Workbook.…
PUTJATA, Aleksej Dmitrievič. Smolensk gub. 13.1.1855 — Melbourne 16.12.1894. Russian Diplomat and former Student of Indology. Son of Dmitrij Aleksandrovič Putjata. After studies worked in Ministry of Education and in 1885 entered diplomatic career as secretary at the Russian embassy in Bucharest, then for a while in Odessa. In 1893…
POSTANS, Thomas. Lee, Kent (?) 1808 — Deesa, Gujarat 11.12.1846. British Colonial Officer interested in Ethnology and Archaeology of India. Captain. Son of Thomas and Agathe Postans, the mother was of French origin, but died in 1816. Joined E.I.C. service as cadet in 1827 and came to Bombay. From 1834…
POPLEY, Herbert Arthur. Richmond, Surrey 31.10.1878 — Coonoor, India 9.5.1960. Rev. British Missionary and Indologist in India, specialized in Classical Tamil Literature. Studies at Hackney College (B.A.). Ordained priest 1901 and left to India as London Missionary Society’s missionary. Worked in Erode, founding Community Training School there. In 1921 moved…
POELMEIJER, Ronald Herman. Amsterdam 12.7.1946 — Amsterdam 30.6.1993. Dutch Tibetologist. Son of Hermanus Poelmeijer (1913–1993) and Lena Cornelia Hund. Studied Indology and Tibetan at Amsterdam, then Lecturer of Tibetan at Leiden. Never completed his doctorate. Publications: Reviews and popular articles, e.g. “Geneeskunde in Tibet”, Yoga 25:1, 1983, 20-27, 25:2, 1983,…
PITTMAN, Richard Saunders (Dick). Streator, Ill. 19.2.1915 — Waxhaw, Union, NC 21.8.1998. U.S. Linguist. Son of glass manufacturer Edwin John Pittman and Louise Shepard. Graduated 1936 from Asbury College. In 1940-50 lived in Tetelcingo, Mexico, doing linguistic fieldwork, and continued his studies in the U.S.A., first at University of Michigan,…
PIET, John Henry. Grand Rapids, Michigan 2.9.1914 — Holland, Michigan 16.10.1992. Rev. U.S. Missionary and Scholar of Religion. Minister of the Reformed Church in America. Son of Reinder Piet (1881–1956), a railway toolmaker, and Gesina (Gezena) Johanna Charlotta Brinkman, both immigrants from the Netherlands. Studies at Hope College (graduated A.B.…
PHILIPPI, Friedrich Wilhelm Martin (Fritz). Dorpat (Tartu) 3.11.1843 — Rostock 6.3.1905. German (born in Estonia) Semitic Scholar. Professor in Rostock. Son of Friedrich Adolf Philippi (1809–1882), who was later Professor of Theology at Rostock, and Jeannette Pincson, the family was from Germany and only lived in Estonia in 1840-51. After…