[Obituary] Pou Saveros

The great Khmer epigrapher Prof. Pou Saveros passed away last month. This tribute in English was penned by Dr Heng Piphal, who has allowed me to share it here. I had posted this on Facebook earlier over the weekend. RIP

Cambodia bids farewell to Professor Pou Saveros, a Titan* of Khmer studies

Professor Pou Saveros, renowned Khmer linguist, epigrapher, and specialist in Sanskrit-Pali, passed away in Paris on June 25, 2020 at the age of 90: only 81 days short of her 91 birthday on August 24, 2020. Raised in an affluent Phnom Penh family, Professor Pou was among the first Cambodian women to earn a higher education degree abroad. She received her state doctorate (doctorat d’état) degree in 1979 and joined the Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS). There she taught and mentored many students in modern and old Khmer at the Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (INALCO), the Université Sorbonne Nouvelle-Paris 3, and the École française d’extrême-orient (EFEO) (Ham 2016; Chhom et al 2020).

A fierce promoter of Khmer studies, Prof. Pou authored more than 150 publications on various aspects of Khmer civilization including language, religions, philosophies, and ecology using written records (see AEFEK 2020 and Pou 2003). Dissatisfied with the Indo-centric bias in Khmer research on religion and art history, Prof. Pou advocated instead for an independent “Khmerology”: the systematic and multidisciplinary approach to Khmer research that integrated world history research with linguistics, epigraphy, and archaeology (Pou 2000). The accompanying bibliography illustrates her broad scholarly publication record in Khmerology. We also note that her extensive collaboration with Philip Jenner produced invaluable source materials on Khmer chbap: didactic poetry on philosophy, moral, and social values (e.g., 1976, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981). Such work, as Khmerology, produced new understandings of premodern and modern Khmer language and civilization.

Redefining Cambodia’s “post-Angkorian” or “Dark Age” as the “Middle Period” was perhaps Prof. Pou’s greatest accomplishment. In doing so, she bridged colonial notions of “discontinuity” or “abandonment” or “lost” narratives with the emergence of modern Cambodia (see Ang et al. 1998, 72-81; Thompson 1997,22-23; 1999,335-336n1). To Prof. Pou, Angkor’s civilization did not vanish, but instead transformed during the Middle period. Her analyses of Rāmkerti (the Middle period transformation of Hindu epic Ramayana) and of Middle period Khmer inscriptions, for example, reflect this paradigm. The Angkor civilization that scholars consider “lost” was already “found” in the Middle period: through Prof. Pou’s career-long research on the topic [e.g., Ang (2007), Mikaelian (2015), and Thompson (1998; 2000) illustrated these narratives].
The passing of Professor Pou Saveros, preceded a few years earlier by the passing of prominent scholars of Khmer studies like scholars Michael Vickery and Claude Jacques, closes a chapter in the formative era in Khmer studies. These scholars’ visions and legacies guide succeeding generations of multinational scholars, including an ever-increasing number of Khmer archaeologists, epigraphers, historians, and linguists, to understand Cambodia’s rich and storied past. We are grateful for their intellectual contributions to the field.

* I am inspired by the title used by Grégory Mikaelian (a student of Pou Saveros) for the late Prof. Au Chiang, another prominent Khmer scholar (Mikaelian 2019). I was, in fact, hesitant to write this short tribute to Prof. Pou because I only met her once when she presented a lecture at RUFA in 1998 and because scholars that I cited here are more qualified than I am. Yet, her presence loomed large when I began my doctoral and postdoctoral research on Khmer political economy. To pay homage to my forebears and compatriots who built and advanced my field, and with encouragement and contribution from Dr. Miriam Stark, I wish to contribute this short obituary to Prof. Pou Saveros. May she attain the supreme bliss of nirvāna. Piphal Heng, Honolulu July 03, 2020.

** Both photographs came from Preap Chanmara’s Facebook post dated June 28, 2020.

*** If you would like copies of Prof. Pou’s selected publications listed in the “Selected works” section of this document, please contact hengpiphal@gmail.com and miriams@hawaii.edu.

Selected references
AEFEK. 2020. “Traveaux de Khmérisants: POU, Saveros.” Blog. Association d’échanges et de Formation Pour Les Études Khmères. 2020.
Ang, Choulean. 2007. “In the Beginning Was the Bayon.” In Bayon: New Perspectives, edited by Joyce Clark, 362–77. Bangkok: River Books Press.
Ang, Choulean, Eric Prenowitz, Ashley Thompson, and Molyvann Vann. 1998. Angkor, a Manual for the Past, Present, and the Future. UNESCO with the United Nations Development Program [and] Swedish International Development Agency.
Chhom, Kunthea, Vy Van, and Chan Mara Preap. 2020. Biography of Professor Pou Saveros (in Khmer). Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Unpublished Document Presented during Professor Pou Savros’ memorial ceremony at the Buddhist Institute.
Ham, Chhay Ly. 2016. Biography of Professor Pou Saveros (in Khmer). Paris: Unpublished Document of the Elibrary of Cambodia. http://www.elibraryofcambodia.org/biology-dr-pov-savvorn/….
Mikaelian, Grégory. 2015. “The Idea of Decline and of Attempts at Renaissance of Middle Period Cambodia (In Khmer: គំនិតថាប្រទេសខ្មែរចុះស្រុតឱនថយនិងប្រឹងងើបឡើងវិញនៅសម័យកណ្តាល).” UDAYA, Journal of Khmer Studies 13: 35–45.
———. 2019. “Le grū du Parnasse. Au Chhieng chez les Titans.” Péninsule 78 (1): 93–142.
Thompson, Ashley. 1997. “Changing Perspectives: Cambodia after Angkor.” In Sculpture of Angkor and Ancient Cambodia: Millennium of Glory, 22–32. Washington, D.C.: National Gallery of Art.
———. 1998. “The Ancestral Cult in Transition: Reflections on Spatial Organisation of Cambodia’s Early Theravāda Complex.” In Southeast Asian Archaeology 1996. Proceedings of the 6th International Conference of the European Association of Southeast Asian Archaeologists, Leiden, 2-6 September 1996, edited by Marijke J Klokke and Thomas de Brujin, 273–95. Centre for Southeast Asian Studies, University of Hull.
———. 2000. “Lost and Found: The Stupa, the Four-Faced Buddha, and the Seat of Royal Power in Middle Cambodia.” In Proceedings of the 7th International Conference of the European Association of Southeast Asian Archaeologists, Berlin, 31 August-4 September 1998, edited by Wibke Lobo and Stefanie Reimann, 245–64. Hull: Centre for South-East Asian Studies, University of Hull &​ Ethnologisches Museum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin Stiftung Preuischer Kulturbesitz.

Selected works by Professor Pou Saveros (for an exhaustive list, see AEFEK and Pou 2003)

Pou, Saveros. 1965. Music and Dance in Ancient Cambodia as Evidenced by Old Khmer Epigraphy. Journal of the Siam Society II:283-292.
———. 1967. La toponymie khmère. Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême Orient 53(2):375-451. (as Lewitz)
———. 1970. VI. Textes en khmer moyen. Inscriptions modernes d’Angkor 2 et 3. Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême Orient 57:99-126. (as Lewitz)
———. 1972. Les inscriptions modernes d’Angkor Vat. Journal Asiatique (260):107-129.
———. 1974. The Word ĀC in Khmer: a Semantic Overview. In South-East Asian Linguistic Studies, edited by Nguyen Dang Liem, 175-191. Canberra: Australian National University.
———. 1974. Les inscriptions modernes d’Angkor 35, 36, 37 et 39. Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême Orient 61:301-337. (as Lewitz)
———. 1975. Inscriptions modernes d’Angkor 34 et 38. Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême Orient 62:283-353. (as Pou-Lewitz)
———. 1977. Études sur le Rāmakerti: XVIe-XVIIe siècles. Vol. 111. Publications de l’École française d’Extrême-Orient. Paris: École française d’Extrême-Orient.
———. 1977. Inscriptions en khmer moyen de Vat Athvea (K. 262). Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême Orient 64:151-166. (as Pou-Lewitz)
———. 1978. VII. Inscription dite de Brai Svây ou “Bois des Manguiers” de Sukhoday. Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême Orient 65(2): 333-359. (as Pou-Lewitz)
———. 1979. Subhāsit and Cpāp’ in Khmer Literature. In Ludwik Sternbach Felicitation Volume, Part 1, edited by Jagdama Prasad Sinha, 331-348. Lucknow, India: Akhila Bharatiya Sanskrit Parishad.
———. 1981. Inscriptions khmères K. 39 et K. 27. Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême Orient 70: 121-134. (as Pou-Lewitz)
———. 1981. Inscriptions khmères K. 144 et K. 177. Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême Orient 70: 101-120. (as Pou-Lewitz)
———. 1991. Les noms de monuments khmers. Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême Orient 78:203-227. (as Pou-Lewitz)
———. 1992. Indigenization of Rāmāyana in Cambodia. Asian Folklore Studies 51(1):89-102.
———. 1996. Les termes grammaticaux du vieux khmer (VIe-XIVe siècle). Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême Orient 83:21-34. (as Pou-Lewitz)
———. 1998. Dieux et rois dans la pensée Khmère ancienne. Journal Asiatique 286(2):653-669.
———. 2000. What is Khmerology? (in Khmer). Translated by Sotheara Vong. Public lecture hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the Buddhist Institute in 1998. Phnom Penh: Unpublished.
———. 2001. Nouvelles inscriptions du cambodge: II & III. Vol. 2 & 3. Paris: École française d’Extrême-Orient.
———. 2002. Āśrama dans l’ancien Cambodia. Journal Asiatique 290(1):315-339.
———. 2002. Nouveau regard sur Śiva-Īśvara au Cambodge. Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême Orient 89:145-182. (as Pou-Lewitz)
———. 2003. Selected Papers on Khmerology/ Choix d’articles de khmerologie. Phnom Penh: Reyum Publishing.
———. 2004. Dictionnaire Vieux Khmer-Français-Anglais = An Old Khmer-French-English Dictionary = Vacanānukram Khmaer Câs-Pārāṃṅ-Qaṅles. Paris, France: L’Harmattan.
———. 2008. Kalpanā in Ancient Cambodia. In Interpreting Southeast Asia’s Past: Monument, Image and Text, edited by Elisabeth A. Bacus, Ian C. Glover and Peter De. Sharrock, 241-247. Singapore: NUS Press Pte Ltd.
———. 2011. Nouvelles inscriptions du cambodge. Vol. 4. Paris: l’Harmattan.

Pou-Lewitz, Saveros and Philip N. Jenner. 1975. IX. Les cpàp’ ou “Codes de conduite” khmers I. Cpàp kerti kál. Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême Orient 62:369-394.
———.1976. VI. Les cpàp’ ou “Codes de conduite” khmers II. Cpàp prus. Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême Orient 63:313-350.
———.1977. VII. Les cpàp’ ou “Codes de conduite” khmers III. Cpàp kun cau. Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême Orient 64:167-215.
———.1978. VIII. Les cpàp’ ou “Codes de conduite” khmers IV. Cpàp Rajaneti ou Cpàp Brah Râjasambhâr. Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême Orient 65:361-402.
———. 1979. VI. Les cpàp’ ou “Codes de conduite” khmers V. Cpàp Kram. Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême Orient 66:129-160.
———.1981. Les cpàp’ ou “Codes de conduite” khmers. Bulletin de l’Ecole française d’Extrême Orient 70: 135-193.