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Suomalais-Ugrilaisen Seuran
Toimituksia 229
Mémoires de la Société Finno-Ougrienne
229
Harry Halén
Biliktu Bakshi. The Knowledgeable
Teacher. G. J. Ramstedt's Career as a Scholar
Gustaf John Ramstedt (1873–1959) is one
of the brightest stars in the history of Finnish learning.
From an unfavourable background of poverty he was able to rise
to the heights of scientific research.
Supported and guided by Professor Otto
Donner, the founder of the Finno-Ugrian Society, Ramstedt was
introduced to the field of Altaic studies and sent on numerous
expeditions to Mongolia, the Kalmuk lands, Caucasia, Chinese
Turkestan and the borders of Afghanistan. Almost entirely due
to his own field research and the reliable material he
gathered he became the pioneer of comparative Altaic philology,
virtually a new discipline.
Almost immediately after being appointed
professor extraordinarius he was sent to Japan to become the
first chargé d'affaires of the newly independent Finland.
During his ten years in the Far East Ramstedt became
interested in the origins of Korean. This little-studied field
occupied him for the rest of his life even at the expense of
projects which he had commenced
earlier.
This great humanist, poet, advocate of
temperance, diplomat and scholar remains dear to all those who
met him. The present work is intended as a short
recapitulation of the main events of his multi-faceted life.
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