John Brough

John Brough (1917–1984) was a renowned Professor of Sanskrit at the University of Cambridge (1967–1984) and a Fellow of St John's College. He held previous academic roles as Professor of Sanskrit and Head of the Department of India, Pakistan and Ceylon at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London (1948–1967). His research focused on Sanskrit philology, Buddhist texts, and textual criticism, with notable contributions to the study of Gandhari Dharmapada, Bhattikavya, and early Buddhist manuscripts.

Education: Dundee High School; Edinburgh University (MA 1939, DLitt 1945); St John's College, Cambridge (BA 1941, MA 1945). His work involved extensive field research in Nepal and collaboration with international scholars. Brough tragically died in a road accident in 1984.

Research Interests: Sanskrit textual studies, Buddhist literature, linguistic theory, and the history of textual transmission. His publications include critical editions of classical texts and influential articles on philology, epigraphy, and comparative mythology. He also contributed to the understanding of early Buddhist translations and the cultural interactions along the Silk Road.