KLIMKEIT, Hans-Joachim. Ranchi, India 22.7.1939 — 7.2.1999. German scholar of Comparative, Indian and Central Asian Religions. Professor in Bonn. Son of a missionary, Johannes Klimkeit (1908–1977) of Gossner Mission and his wife Renate. Grew up in India, after internment camp during war school in Kodaikanal and Darjeeling. Came to Germany…
KIRFEL, Willibald. Reifferscheid, Eifel 29.1.1885 — Bad Godesberg 16.10. 1964. German Indologist. Professor in Bonn. Son of Johann Kirfel (1854–1923), teacher in elementary school, and Anna Maria Huy. In 1904-08 studies of Oriental languages and Catholic theology at Bonn. Ph.D. 1908 Bonn (Jacobi). In 1911-21 Librarian in Bonn university library.…
KIRCHER, Athanasius. Geisa near Fulda 2.5.1602 (or 1601) — Rome 27.11.1680. Father. S.J. German Polyhistor and Oriental Scholar, a Pioneer of Coptology, a Precursor of Egyptology, a Sinologist, etc. Son of Johann Kircher, Doctor of Divinity and teacher of Benedictines, and Anna Gansek. Novice of S.J. 1618 in Paderborn, took…
KENNEDY, James. 1842 — 20.6.1920. British (Scottish) Indologist and Historian of India. Born in North India as son of Rev. James Kennedy (1815–1899), a missionary in Benares and Kumaon, and Margaret Walker. Educated at Edinburgh High School and University. After studies he joined the I.C.S. and from 1863 served in…
KEITH, Arthur Berriedale. Portobello (Edinburgh) 5.4.1879 — Edinburgh 6.10. 1944. British (Scottish) Indologist and Scholar of Law. Professor in Edinburgh. Son of an advertiser, Davidson Keith (1842–1921), and Margaret Stobie Drysdale (1851–1922), educated at Royal High School. Studies at Edinburgh University (B.A. 1896, M.A. 1897), and from 1897 at Balliol…
HOOYKAAS, Christiaan. Amersfoort 26.12.1902 — ’s-Gravenhage 13.8.1979. Dutch Sanskrit and Indonesian Scholar. Son of a vicar, Isaäc Hooykaas (1866–1944) and Eva Maria Faber. From 1921 studies of Sanskrit (Vogel), Arabic and Indonesian at Leiden, Ph.D. there 1929 in Javanese. In 1929-39 high school teacher in Java, mainly in Yogyakarta, in…
HERBERT, Jean Daniel Fernand. Paris 27.6.1897 — Geneva 21.8.1980. French Scholar of Religion. Son of a Catholic father (a teacher of English) and Protestant mother. Between world wars worked in various international organizations, in 1930 became interested in Buddhism. Travelled 1933 in India (met Aurobindo) and China. During the war…
HARRISON, Max Hunter. Victoria, co. Knox, Illinois 24.12.1893 — Auburndale, co. Middlesex, Mass. 20.2.1986. Rev. U.S. Missionary in India. Son of Jacob Hunter Harrison (1841–1917) and Ellen Wilmetta Levalley. Studied mathematics and Greek at Knox College (B.A. 1913), then at Andower Newton Theological School (B.Th. 1916) and Harvard Divinity School…
HAAS, George Christian Otto. New York 28.3.1883 — Passaic, NJ 9.10.1964. U.S. Indologist and Sectarian. Son of Rev. George Christian Frederick Haas (1854–1927), a Lutheran pastor, and Anna Sophia Hansen (1859–1904). Studies at Columbia University: A.B. 1902, A.M. 1903, Ph.D. 1909 (under Williams Jackson). In 1904-11 tutor at City College…
GUÉNON, René Jean Marie Joseph. Blois 15.11.1886 — Cairo 7.1.1951. French Philosopher and Author interested in Indian philosophy, rather uncritical admirer of the East. Son of Jean-Baptiste Guénon, an architect, and Anna-Léontine Jolly. Grew up in a Catholic home, school in Blois, suffered often of poor health. He studied mathematics…