Bhubaneswar: Leader of Opposition and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday expressed grief over the demise of Padma awardee and eminent historian Prof Hermann Kulke.
Kulke, a German historian and Indologist, was known for his extensive research on Odisha’s history, culture, and the Jagannath tradition. “His demise is a profound loss to the world of history and Indology. His leadership at Orissa Research Project; pioneering research on Odisha’s culture, history and Shree Jagannath tradition brought Odisha’s rich heritage into global academic discourse. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and admirers. May his soul rest in peace,” Naveen posted on X.
Deputy CM KV Singh Deo also mourned his death. “Deeply saddened by the passing of eminent historian and Padma Shri awardee Prof. Hermann Kulke. His pioneering research on Odisha’s history, culture, and politics has left an indelible mark on Indology and will continue to inspire generations of scholars. As a founding member of the Orissa Research Project, his contributions to the study of our state’s heritage remain unparalleled. May his soul rest in peace,” he wrote in his condolence message on X.
Born in Berlin in 1938, Kulke was a professor of South and Southeast Asian history at Kiel University from 1988 to 2003, where he later became Professor Emeritus. His academic career included significant roles at Heidelberg University’s South Asia Institute, and he was a founding member and coordinator of the Orissa Research Project, which advanced scholarly understanding of regional histories in India.
He was conferred with Padma Shri in 2010, the Gold Medal of the Asiatic Society of Kolkata in 2005, and Germany’s Order of Merit in 2011.
