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…
PILÁT, Jan. Prague 12.3.1926 — Prague 9.12.1990. Czech Scholar. Studies of history and philosophy at Prague, Ph.D. 1968. Apparently worked as a journalist and author. Publications: Mahátma Gándhí. 237 p. Prague 1963, Hungarian translation 1969; Dobyvatelé, proroci, patrioti – pět indických staletí. 355 p. Prague 1965; Džaváharlál Néhrú. 223 p. Prague 1967; Benjamin…
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…
PETRI, Winfried Wilhelm Eduard Emil. Braunschweig 4..9.1914 — 10/11.4.2000.German Historian of Astronomy. Studied mathematics, physics and Oriental languages and worked in various positions, mainly in Berlin. Ph.D. 1943. Participated in WW II and was American war prisoner. In 1946-49 worked as miner. Then went to Munich, employed in observatory. Now studied…
PÉRI, Noël. Cruzy-le-Châtel (Yonne) 22.8.1865 — Hanoi 25.6.1922. Father. French Missionary and Sino-Japanologist. Son of Hilaire Paris (d. 1921 when 87), a magistrate with Corsican origin, school in Neufchâteau (Vosges), Dôle and Châlon-sur-Saône. Studied theology at seminaries of Isay and Saint-Sulpice.. Ordained priest in 1888 and left for Japan. Served…
PERCHERON, Maurice Alfred. Archachon (Gironde) 22.7.1891 — Paris 22.12.1963.French Engineer and Author. Son of Alfred Percheron, a physician, and Madeleine Nonès. Participated in WW I. From 1919 worked in aircraft development. In the 1930s several travels in Asia. Officer of Légion d’honneur 1958. Married 1916 Suzanne Moreau (divorce 1940) and…
PENNELL, Theodore Leighton. Clifton, Bristol 7.10.1867 — Bannu (now in Pakistan) 23.12.1912. British Missionary Physician in India. Lost early his physician father, educated at Eastbourne College. Studies at London University College and Hospital, M.D. 1891. Sent by Church Missionary Society arrived at Karachi in 1892, accompanied by his mother (d.…