Jain Journal 1976 04

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

Page 54

DR. P. B. PANDIT
We are aggrieved to learn that on November 17, 75 passed away Dr. P. B. Pandit, an eminent authority on linguistics and old Gujarati manuscripts. Born at Valabhi in Saurashtra on 13th June, 1923 his life is a classic example of endeavour and dedication for research. Son of Pandit Bechar Das Jivraj Doshi, a notable Prakrit scholar and Shrimati Ajwali Bhan Doshi, Dr. Pandit had his early education at Valabhi and Ahmedabad. After getting his Master's degree in Comparative Philology from Bombay University in 1946 he obtained his Ph.D. in England working under the celebrated philologist Sir Ralph Turner. He also received guidance from Jules Bloch in Paris and returned to India also after working on Phonetics. After either teaching or giving a series of lectures in various colleges and Universities in India and on one occasion spending a year (1955-56) as a Senior Fellow of Yale University, U.S.A., Dr. Pandit was appointed Professor and Head of the
stics Department in Delhi University in the year 1966. His papers on phonetics and phonology have been widely acclaimed. By virtue of his genius he was the President of the Linguistics Section of the Indian Oriental Conference held at Gauhati in 1964. He was honoured for his first Gujarati book by the Sahitya Academy Award in 1957 by the late President of India Dr. Zakir Hussain. Apart from joining international seminars abroad he was a visiting Professor of Cornell University, USA. Apart from being a patriot Dr. Pandit was a sincere humanist all along his life.
-P. C. DAS GUPTA