David Snellgrove facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Snellgrove
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Snellgrove in London, May 2011
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| Born |
David Llewellyn Snellgrove
29 June 1920 Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
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| Died | 25 March 2016 (aged 95) Pinerolo, Italy
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| Known for | Study of Tibet |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Tibetology |
| Institutions | School of Oriental and African Studies |
David Llewellyn Snellgrove (born June 29, 1920 – died March 25, 2016) was a British expert who studied Tibet and its culture. He was especially known for his important work on Tibetan Buddhism, which is a type of Buddhism practiced in Tibet. He also wrote many books about his travels.
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Early Life and Education
David Snellgrove was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. He went to school at Christ's Hospital near Horsham. Later, he studied German and French at Southampton University.
Military Service and Discovering Tibet
In 1941, David Snellgrove joined the military during World War II. He became an officer in the Royal Engineers. He asked to be sent to India, and he arrived in Bombay in June 1943. From there, he traveled to Calcutta.
While stationed in India, he got malaria and was sent to a military hospital. It was there that he started his journey into studying Tibet. He bought books about Tibet by Charles Alfred Bell and also a book to learn the Tibetan language.
Learning Tibetan and University Studies
After recovering, Snellgrove spent time in Darjeeling and Kalimpong. He even hired a young Tibetan person to help him practice speaking the language. He also traveled in the small Himalayan state of Sikkim.
In 1946, after leaving the Army, he wanted to continue studying Tibetan. Since no university offered Tibetan language courses at that time, he was advised to study Sanskrit and Pali first. These ancient languages are important for understanding many Asian cultures. So, he went to Queens' College, Cambridge in October 1946.
Professor of Tibetan
In 1950, after finishing his studies at Cambridge, David Snellgrove was invited to teach basic Tibetan at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. He became a Professor of Tibetan there and taught until he retired in 1982.
After he retired, Snellgrove focused more on the art history of South East Asia. He passed away on March 25, 2016, in Pinerolo, Italy. In 1969, he was chosen as a fellow of the British Academy, which is a great honor for scholars.
