Dear Vincent, Thank you so much for writing about Johannes. He truly was an exceptional person and a great scholar. If you wouldn't mind sharing his last interview, I believe many of us would appreciate the opportunity to hear his thoughts and remember his voice once again. It would mean a great deal to those of us who valued his insights and friendship. Nataliya
On Wed, May 14, 2025 at 7:22 PM Eltschinger, Vincent via INDOLOGY < [email protected]> wrote: > Johannes taught me Sanskrit and Indology; taught me never to take anything > for granted, academic and religious traditions, which have so much in > common, even less than the rest. A great master is leaving us, the author > of an abundant, but also innovative and provocative body of work, which > covered all areas of Indian studies, from Vyākaraṇa, his initial training, > to Vedic and Buddhist studies, from Vaiśeṣika to Vedānta via Mīmāṃsā, > Sāṅkhya, Jainism and Ājīvikism. His greatness lay in his erudition, and, > almost as much, in his humility; I also remember a teacher always listening > to his students, curious about their ideas, and laughing heartily with > them. Johannes was also a man of convictions. The freedom to choose the > time and circumstances of his death has always been one of these. > > About a month ago, on the occasion of a meeting between colleagues and > friends in Lausanne, Johannes took me aside and asked me to drive him home. > On the way, he told me that he and his beloved Joy would soon be “leaving” > to escape illness and debilitating age. We spent a beautiful and moving > evening, a “last supper” so to speak. While my eyes were heavy, Johannes > and Joy were perfectly serene, joking as if nothing were happening. We > celebrated a cloudless friendship, without sadness, as if it were to last > eternally. They still didn’t know the exact date of their “departure,” but > it was imminent. And then, as if it were impossible for that meal to be > our last, I asked him if he would lend himself to a last interview. A few > days later, equipped with a camera, I asked Johannes about his life, his > training, his career path, for almost two hours of a unique and privileged > moment. I left with big eyes. It was imminent. It was today. > > My sadness reflects my selfishness. Johannes and Joy entered death the > same way they met and loved each other, and that alone is what counts, the > very thing that makes me happy in spite of everything. > > Johannes did not consider his life to be of any interest other than his > work. He leaves us with it, and it has, he has everything to teach us. > > Today he had Joy Manné’s son send a last message to his friends. I allow > myself to quote its last paragraph: “Our sympathies are with those who are > obliged to live through the sometimes long and often painful process of old > age and dying.” > > Vincent Eltschinger > > > Vincent Eltschinger, korrespondierendes Mitglied der OeAW > Directeur d'études > École Pratique des Hautes Études, Section des sciences religieuses > Patios Saint-Jacques, 4-14 rue Ferrus - 75014 Paris > [email protected] > 0033 1 56 61 17 34 / 0033 7 85 86 84 05 > ------------------------------ > *Von:* INDOLOGY <[email protected]> im Auftrag von Greg > Bailey via INDOLOGY <[email protected]> > *Gesendet:* Donnerstag, 15. Mai 2025 00:11:19 > *An:* [email protected]; Harry Falk > *Betreff:* [EXT] Re: [INDOLOGY] Johannes Bronkhorst gone > > *External Email*: please use links and attachments from trusted sources > only > Dear List, > > Very sad news. Johannes was a wonderful colleague with some highly > original contributions. > > Sadly, > > Greg Bailey > ------------------------------ > *From:* INDOLOGY <[email protected]> on behalf of Harry > Falk via INDOLOGY <[email protected]> > *Sent:* Thursday, May 15, 2025 4:47 AM > *To:* [email protected] <[email protected]> > *Subject:* [INDOLOGY] Johannes Bronkhorst gone > > Dear friends and colleagues, > I have just received the news that Johannes Bronkhorst left this world > today at noon in a controlled manner, as was his custom, together with his > beloved wife Joy Manné. > He sent the last batch of his papers just a few days ago. He will be > remembered as an innovative and inspired scientist, a cheerful person and > a true and dear friend. > Sadly. > Harry Falk > > > > _______________________________________________ > INDOLOGY mailing list > [email protected] > https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology > > La Trobe University | TEQSA PRV12132 - Australian University | CRICOS > Provider 00115M > > _______________________________________________ > INDOLOGY mailing list > [email protected] > https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology >
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