Józef Kowalewski

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Józef Kowalewski (Russian: Иосиф Михайлович Ковалевский) (1801-1878) was a Polish orientalist. Founder of the Philomatic Association, in 1824 convicted by the Russian Empire activity for pro-Polish activity and exiled into Russia. Allowed to study at the Kazan State University. He studied Mongolia, particularly Mongolian language and Tibetan Buddhism; in 1833 he founded a Department of Mongolian Studies at Kazan University - the first such Department in the world. In the years 1844 - 1849 he published his major work - a Russian - Mongolian - French dictionary. In 1862 he was allowed to return to Poland (then a part of Russian Empire); he refused to support the January Uprising and did not oppose russification of Polish education, for which he became the deacon of the Warsaw University.

[edit] References

• Kotwicz W., 1948: Józef Kowalewski (1801-1878). Orientalista. Wrocław.
• Waliejew R.M. (red.), 2004: Монголовед О.М.Ковалевский: биография и наследие (1801–1878). Wyd. «Алма-Лит»,Kazań.