February 17^th 2025 will mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of the Indologist Friedrich Albrecht Weber (17.2.1825–30.11.1901). His far-reaching influence and international network had a significant impact on the development of Indology in the German-speaking world and beyond. This academic symposium on the occasion of the Jubilee is intended to shed light on Weber’s many years of intensive work and to emphasise his lasting significance for Indology and other fields. Berlin and Albrecht Weber were and are closely linked. For several years, he held the chair of Indology at the Friedrich-Wilhelms University in Berlin. Weber worked also for many years on the collection of Indian manuscripts at the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin (SBB), and important parts of his correspondence are kept here.

The symposium aims to explore Albrecht Weber’s correspondence network and academic connections, his influence on the development of Indology, and the origins and development of Indological studies in German-speaking countries and Europe.

The conference is held in cooperation with Prof Dr Annette Schmiedchen (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin), sub-project „From Deccan to Arakan“ of the ERC Synergy Grant-funded project „DHARMA – The Domestication of ‚Hindu‘ Asceticism and the Religious Making of South and Southeast Asia“.

Program:

17th February 2025

10:00 Registration / Welcome Coffee
10:30 Opening Address
10:45­–12:30 Albrecht Weber’s correspondence and academic networks

Krause, Anett (Berlin): Albrecht Weber’s correspondence with the Leipzig professor of Indology and editor of the ZDMG Ernst Windisch

Walravens, Hartmut (Berlin): Anton Schiefner as Albrecht Weber’s correspondent

Petit, Jérôme (Paris): Weber’s French connections: acquiring, cataloguing, and editing Sanskrit manuscripts

12:30–14:00 Lunch
14:00–15:45 Weber’s influence on the development of Indology I

Keßler-Persaud, Anne (Göttingen): The first and the second Indological reading of the Ṛgveda’s marriage hymn

Natu, Amruta (Pune): Weber’s view of ancient Indian astronomy vis-à-vis his immediate successors in that field

Parpola, Asko (Helsinki, online): Weber’s contribution to the study of Vedic texts and Vedic ritual

15:45-16:15 Coffee
16:15–18:00 Weber’s influence on the development of Indology II

Pinault, Georges-Jean (Paris): Dice divination on the tracks of Albrecht Weber

Salomon, Richard (Washington): Albrecht Weber on the origin of the Indian scripts

Sengupta, Indra (London): Claiming a discipline: Albrecht Weber and Indology in Berlin in the 19th century

18th February 2025

10:00 Welcome Coffee
10:30–12:15 Origin and development of Indological studies in German-speaking countries and Europe I

Dimitrov, Dragomir (Marburg): Some observations about Bruno Liebich’s work on the Cāndravyākaraṇa and his manuscripts

Hoffmann-Ruf, Michaela (Berlin): Indological studies at the University of Bonn at the time of Johann Gustav Gildemeister (1812-1890)

Schmiedchen, Annette (Berlin): Georg Bühler – a contemporary of Albrecht Weber

12:15–13:45 Lunch
13:45–15:00 Origin and development of Indological studies in German-speaking countries and Europe II

Schneider, Johannes (München): Verhinderte Anfänge. P. Heinrich Roth SJ (1620-1668) aus Dillingen und die älteste westliche Sanskritgrammatik

Theilhaber, Amir (Bielefeld): Agha Hassan Amanats Indar Sabha in Friedrich Rosens Übersetzung. Modernes Hindustani Theater zwischen britischem Imperialismus, indischem Nationalismus und deutscher Orientalistik

Please register here.

During the event, pictures will be taken for the public relations of the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin. With your registration you agree to the publication for non-commercial purposes.