When was Richard Gombrich born and where did he grow up?
Richard Francis Gombrich was born on the 17th of July 1937 into a family that bridged two distinct cultural spheres. He grew up as the only child within this intellectual household in London.
Questions about Richard Gombrich
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What degrees did Richard Gombrich earn from Oxford University and when?
The young student earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Oxford in 1961. He later secured a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the same university in 1970 with a thesis focused on Contemporary Sinhalese Buddhism in its relation to the Pali canon.
How did Richard Gombrich determine the historical date of the Buddha's death?
Data supplied in Pali texts composed in Sri Lanka enabled him to date that event to about 404 BCE. This conclusion emerged from analyzing textual evidence found throughout his career using Karl Popper's conjecture and refutation method.
When did Richard Gombrich hold the Boden Professor of Sanskrit position at Oxford?
In 1976 he became the Boden Professor of Sanskrit while also serving as a fellow of Balliol College. This tenure lasted until mandatory retirement in 2004 when he stepped down from the chair.
Which awards did Richard Gombrich receive for his contributions to Indology and Buddhist studies?
The Asiatic Society of Calcutta awarded Richard Gombrich the SC Chakraborty medal in 1993. The following year he received the Sri Lanka Ranajana decoration from the President of Sri Lanka.