Jain Journal 1970 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 41

JANUARY, 1970
Principal subject (Hauptfach) was Indology. Of the two casual students, one was an elderly professional stage actor and the other a young lady, a high school teacher. Meeting the latter in the corridor once, I asked her why she was interested in Sanskirt, and she replied that she had a friend, then in India, who desired her to learn Sanskrit. On returning from India Alsdorf married her and I then understood who her absent friend was! As I told Frl. Brosin about my talk with the lady she replied with a laugh that Schubring had said this on hearing of the marriage, "For long I used to wonder why a school-mistress should feel interested in Sanskrit, but now I understand! " Schubring had a great sense of humour and a ready stock of witty remarks and anecdotes. Hansen on his return married Frl. Brosin, which too must have been arranged before he had set out on his Indian tour.
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When well-acquainted with the Seminar and its class and working rooms, I discovered that it was its windows and ivy-covered wall that I used to gaze upon sitting on the lawn! In November work started in full swing. We arrived at the Seminar after 8 A.M., worked in the library till about 11 when we made a short break for coffee in the small Seminar coffee room and drank coffee prepared by Frl. Brosin (later Frau Hansen), worked again till 1 P. M. and then went to the Studentenhaus (Students' Club) for lunch at the Mensa; after lunch we read newspapers and drank coffee in the club rooms and returned to the Seminar about 3 P.M. and continnued our work in the library till late in the evening, refreshing ourselves with coffee and snacks, if needed, at the University cafeteria, only a few steps from our Seminar. When Schubring had to spend some time in the Seminar, he would dash up to this cafe and fetch a cup of coffee for himself at intervals-chaprasis, peons and bearers are unknown in Germany, and no one would send his secretary, clerk or stenographer on a private errand. I always saw Schubring himself carrying files under his arm whenever he went to the Dean or to the Faculty meetings although a University Professor in Germany enjoyed a high salary and a very high official and social status. Though 52 at the time, Schubring was very quick in his walk and brisk in his movements. Sometimes I met him while he was on his way to the University from the Rail Station nearby and he seemed to be neither walking nor running but flying. On such occasions he would lift his hat and nod to me before I could greet him as he passed by. Because I was a foreigner, I was thus treated respectfully by all my other Professors as well. I used to transact my postal business at a big Post Office on the way from my residence to the University and sometimes I would see Schubring in the long queue at the counter-Germany was notorious for long queues everywhere during those days-and if he chanced to see me in the line we would nod and smile.