Johannes Bronkhorst

Johannes Bronkhorst was a Dutch Orientalist and Indologist, born on July 17, 1946, in Schiedam, Netherlands. He specialized in Sanskrit grammar, Buddhist studies, and early Buddhism. Bronkhorst studied Mathematics, Physics, and Astronomy at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam, obtaining his B.Sc. in 1968. He then moved to India to study Sanskrit and Pāli, first at the University of Rajasthan, where he completed his MA in 1976. He earned his PhD from Pune University in 1979 with a specialization in Sanskrit grammar and Indian philosophy. He later obtained a second doctorate in 1980 from the University of Leiden. Bronkhorst was appointed Professor of Sanskrit and Indian studies at the University of Lausanne in 1987, serving until his retirement in 2011, after which he became Professor Emeritus. He also became a corresponding member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1996. Bronkhorst's work focused on the history of Indian thought, covering topics such as indigenous grammar, linguistics, and the interactions between Brahmanism, Buddhism, and Jainism. His significant publication, *Greater Magadha* (2007), explored the culture of early India. He was known for his prolific scholarly output and his adherence to the principles of Karl Popper, emphasizing strong hypotheses and falsifiability. Johannes Bronkhorst passed away on May 14, 2025.