University of Hawai'i emeritus professor Jagdish Sharma, author of the seminal South Asian studies book, "Republics in Ancient India," will be memorialized 4 p.m. Sunday at the Elks Club.

Sharma died on Feb. 21. He was 75.

Sharma held a Ph.D. from the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies. He taught at Columbia University, the University of Virginia and American University in Washington, D.C., before joining the UH faculty in 1964. He also served as a visiting professor at Banaras Hindu University, the University of Rajasthan and the University of Allahabad.

Sharma is credited with helping to establish and maintain the South Asian studies program at UH and previously had served as the program's director. In nearly 40 years as a professor, Sharma sat on or chaired more than 150 master's and doctoral committees.

Throughout his teaching career, Sharma continued to produce significant writings on pre-modern South Asia and related topics.

After retiring from UH in 2003, Sharma revised and expanded "Republics in Ancient India" and continued his studies of Jainism and Buddhism.

Sharma is survived by his wife, UH Asian studies professor Mimi Sharma, and children Arun and Nitasha.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Jagdish P. Sharma Educational Foundation, c/o Asian Studies Program, Moore Hall 415, 1890 East-West Road, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI 96822.