SZERB, János. Budapest 7.1.1951 — Vienna 6.10.1988. Hungarian Tibetologist. Son of Dr. Antal Szerb and Klára Bálint. Studies at Budapest. Ph.D. 1982. In 1984-88 in Ö.A.W, Forschungsstelle für Kultur- und Geistesgeschichte Asiens, in Vienna. Interested in Tibetan history and religion, also including Mongolian Buddhism. Also a poet. Committed suicide. Married…
SZEMERÉNYI, Oswald John Louis. London 7.9.1913 — Freiburg i. Br. 29.12.1996. Hungarian IE Scholar in the U.K. and Germany. Professor in Freiburg (i.Br.). Born in London in a Hungarian family, during WW I his father was interned and the mother with their son expelled to Hungary. Thus grew up in…
STEINSCHNEIDER, Moritz. Prossnitz, Moravia (now Prostějov in Czechia) 30.3.1816 — Berlin 24.1.1907. Moravian Jewish Rabbi, Bibliographer and Semitic Scholar. Son of Jacob Steinschneider (1782–1856), a Talmud scholar, and Hani Zadek-Weizenkern (1792–1859). After school Talmudic studies in Prague (1833-36) and Vienna, now also other Semitic languages. Pressed by anti-Jewish laws of…
STEIN, Rolf Alfred. Schwetz (now Świecie in Kujavia-Pomerania, Poland) 13.6.1911 — Paris 9.10.1999. French (born German Jew) Sinologist and Tibetan Scholar. Professor in Paris. In 1919 when their home town was ceded to Poland, the family moved to Berlin. Youthful interest in occultism led him to Tibetology. Studied Chinese at…
ST. ANDREW ST. JOHN, Richard Fleming. Ealing (?) 12.9.1839 — Brentford, Middlesex 6.2.1919. British Officer and Burmese Scholar. Son of Rev. Henry St.Andrew St.John (1796–1874) and Emily Murray Belcher. Lieutenant. Deputy Commissioner in Burma. Also visited Andamans. In the 1890s he taught Burmese at Oxford and at University College in…
SPRATT, Philip. Camberwell, London 26.9.1902 — Madras (Chennai) 8.3.1971. British Journalist and Politician in India. Son of Herbert Spratt, a schoolmaster, and Norah Walsh, a Baptist home. From 1921 studied mathematics at Downing College, Cambridge, soon became communist. In 1926 went to India as a Comintern agent, arrested 1927, but…
SORLEY, Herbert Tower. 12.4.1892 — 7.8.1968. British Civil Servant in India, Sindhi Scholar. Son of John T. Sorley, City Chamberlain of Aberdeen. M.A. 1914 Aberdeen. From 1915 served in I.C.S. in Sindh and other parts of Bombay Presidency, apparently until 1947. In 1939 he was Collector of Bombay, then Chief…
SOMS (Y) CASTELÍN, Enrique. Barcelona 1860 — 1913. Spanish Linguist. Ph.D. Professor of Greek at Salamanca, from 1891-1913 at Madrid. After Gelabert y Gordiola’s death (1894) taught Sanskrit classes at Madrid University until Daza de Campos was nominated in 1897. Friend of Miguel de Unamuno. Publications: Translated G. Curtius’ Gramática…
SMÉKAL, Odolen. Olomouc 18.8.1928 — Prague 17.6.1998 (or 13.6.). Czech Indologist (Hindi Scholar). Son of teacher Václav Martin Smékal (1890–1948) and Anežka Smičková (1903–1973). Matriculated from gymnasium in Kroměříž.Studies at Charles University in Prague (Pořízka), matriculated 1952. Ph.D. in Hindi. From 1954 taught Hindi at Charles University. In 1993-96 Czech…
SITTIG, Ernst. Berlin 1.2.1887 — Tübingen 25.12.1955. German Linguist and Classical Scholar. Professor in Tübingen. Educated in Berlin, studies at Jena, Berlin and Halle. Ph.D. 1911 Halle. In WW I served in the decipherment department of the army and in 1919-24 continued same work in Foreign Ministry. PD 1923 Berlin,…