Through his teachers Klaus Ludwig Janert and Albrecht Wezler, students of Paul Thieme, he was influenced by the stringent principles of philological research. He applied these principles when he instituted, in 2000, the new subject of South Asian Studies (Südasienkunde) at his university.
Influenced by the rigorous methods of philological research taught by his professors Klaus Ludwig Janert and Albrecht Wezler, who were students of Paul Thieme, he introduced the new field of South Asian Studies in 2000 at his university.