Robert Lingat

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Lingat

Robert Lingat (Rō̜ Lǣngkā, Thai: โรแบร์ แลงกาต์, 1892 – 1972), was a French-born academic and legal scholar most known for his masterwork on the practice of classical Hindu Law.[1] He died May 7, 1972, one year before the first English translation of his work established it as the single most authoritative text on the concept of dharma in Indian legal history.[2] This followed three decades after his three-volume Thai-language edition of Siamese laws (1939-1940) earned him recognition from renowned legal scholar John Henry Wigmore as "the greatest (and almost the only) authority on Siamese legal history," adding: "It will be a notable day when the learned editor will produce for us (as surely he is destined to do) a translation in French."[3]

Early life

Lingat was born in Charleville in 1892, and though not much is known of his personal life. After graduating from École nationale des Arts et Métiers, he received his doctorate in law in Paris in 1919. He married in 1920 Leontine Drouet and had three daughters, Pauline Vicheney (1935-2018), Liliane Bongiorni (1937-2021) and Renée Richard (born in 1939). He moved to work in Bangkok as a legal adviser between 1924 and 1940 where he became involved in the growing debate regarding the origin of the Indian legal system.[3]

Works

During his time at the

translators rendering his instructions into Thai — a post which he held until 1955. In 1961 he left his post at a university in Cambodia to return to France where, until shortly before his death, he taught at the Center for Indian Studies at the University of Paris
.

There he published the French edition of The Classical Law of India, in which he details the origin of the Indian legal system. The book draws heavily on the work of

dharmasastras [books of law] are not ordinary legal treatises expounding the actual law of the country. The science of law was connected with the study of Veda [religious texts]. The latter leads to the study of the rules which necessarily control human societies and are independent of human wills. It reveals to men the principles which should inspire their conduct if they wish to live the meritorious life. They are thus analogous to the European "natural law." But while the European theorists of the "natural law" seldom went beyond the vague region of generalities and the exposition of fundamental principles, the Hindus proceeded to deduce from these principles a mass of detailed and precise rules. Thus the dharmasastras, while theoretically expounding only natural (not positive) law
, in fact regulated the entire legal life of man. Hence they were liable to be mistaken for genuine legal treatises.

Journal of the Siam Society (JSS)

Lingat was a frequent contributor to the Journal of the Siam Society.[8] Some of the articles that he wrote, or which refer to his published works, have been made available on line by the Siamese Heritage Protection Program.[9]

  • Lingat, R. (1933). "History of Wat Pavaranivesa" (PDF). Journal of the Siam Society. 26 (1). Siamese Heritage Trust. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  • Vol. 27.1 1935 Le Culte du Bouddha d'Emeraude Lingat, R.
  • Vol. 28.2 1935 Les trois Bangkok recorders (Notes) Lingat, R.
  • Lingat, R. (1950). "Evolution of the Conception of Law in Burma and Siam" (PDF). Journal of the Siam Society. 38 (1). Siamese Heritage Trust: 13–24. Retrieved February 20, 2013.

Personal life

Thai Buddhist monk's fan of rank

Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong wrote that Lingat was infatuated with Buddhist fans of rank and had at his home in Bangkok a large number of fans of rank of Thai high-ranking monks, the sources of which Lingat refused to reveal.[10]

See also

References

  1. OCLC 660299
    .
  2. ^ B&N
  3. ^ a b c Wigmore, John H. (2012) [Originally published 1940]. "Pramnŏn Kŏtmai Roc'ăkan T'I Nŭng Cŭlăcăkărăt 1166. (Code of the first reign [of Siam] 1166 [A.D. 1804-05]). Edited by R. Lingat, from the Official Manuscripts of the Triple Seal. Bangkok, Vols. I, II, 1939; Vol. III (in press)" [Thai ประมวลกฎมาย รัชกาลที่ ๑ จุลศักราช ๑๑๖๖]. Louisiana Law Review. Digitized. 2. at DigitalCommons: 556–567. Retrieved February 20, 2013.
  4. OCLC 28518324
    . Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  5. ^ Dhani Nivat, Prince (1955). "The Reconstruction of Rama I of the Chakri Dynasty" (PDF). Journal of the Siam Society. 43 (1). Siam Society Heritage Trust. Retrieved January 17, 2013. First page of the Law Code of 1805
  6. OCLC 74896560
    . Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  7. Impr. d'Extréme-Orient
    . Retrieved February 27, 2013.
  8. ^ "Journal of the Siam Society". Siamese Heritage Trust. 2013. Archived from the original on August 17, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2013. About the journal
  9. ^ "Siamese Heritage Trust". Siamese Heritage Trust. 2013. Retrieved February 27, 2013. To Commemorate the 84th Royal Birthday Anniversary of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej Patron of The Siam Society Under Royal Patronage.
  10. ^ Narisara Nuwattiwong; Damrong Rajanubhab (1956). San Somdet (in Thai). Vol. 22. Bangkok: Fine Arts Department of Thailand. pp. 45–46.
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