Former Sanskrit Chair Ingalls Dies at Age 83

Former Sanskrit and Indian Studies department chair Daniel Henry Holmes Ingalls '36, who taught at Harvard for 35 years, died July 17 of heart failure in Hot Springs, Va. He was 83.

According to Professor of Sanskrit Michael Witzel, Ingalls was a "one-man department," teaching all levels of Sanskrit--from introductory to upper-level courses. He was only the third professor in the department in Harvard's history.

During his time at Harvard, Holmes ushered in a rise in student interest in South Asia.

"After World War II, some decision was made to develop South Asian culture," Witzel said. "In the 1950s and '60s, more professorships were created, and the department attracted more students."

During this period, Ingalls also published two books that are considered classics of Sanskrit studies.

His first book, Materials for the Study of Navya-Nyaya Logic, was published in 1951 when he was an assistant professor.

Ingalls' second work, An Anthology of Sanskrit Court Poetry, published in 1968, contained his own translation and commentary on verses collected by the Buddhist abbot Vidyakara in 1050 A.D.

Ingalls' writings and teachings have had a wide range of influence among Sanskrit scholars. "The Sanskritists he trained seemed to be everywhere," said Professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Studies Diana L. Eck in an e-mail message.

"He loved poetry and communicated this to his students," Eck wrote. "Studying with Dan Ingalls around the table at the Sanskrit Library in Widener was exhausting, demanding, and rewarding."

Assistant Professor of Sanskrit and Indian Studies Stephanie Jamison, also praised Ingalls' influence in the field.

"Ingalls had a tremendous impact on Sanskrit and Indology in this country and was one of the last scholars who truly controlled the whole vast field," said Jamison, who is also head tutor and director of graduate studies.

Despite his love for the language, Ingalls often joked about its complexity.

According to Witzel, Ingalls once wrote in a student handbook, "Sanskrit is a difficult language--students are advised not to take it."

Ingalls--who also served as president of the American Oriental Society--retired in 1983 to serve as chairman of Virginia Hot Springs, Inc., his family business.

But Ingalls remained dedicated to teaching students long after his retirement.

"He would return to Cambridge and gather Sanskrit students together just to read for an evening in his apartment on Memorial Drive," Eck wrote.

A native of New York, Ingalls earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Harvard.

He is survived by his wife, Joanne; two daughters and a son; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.