Wooster mourns passing of Ishwar Harris, emeritus professor of religious studies
Ishwar Harris, professor emeritus of religious studies at The College of Wooster, passed away on June 27, 2025, at the age of 81 in Wooster, Ohio. His career at the College spanned 28 years, beginning in 1981 until his retirement in 2009.
Harris began his teaching career at Rutgers University in New Jersey before joining the faculty at Wooster. An authority on Eastern religions, he was an expert on Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam, as well as the culture and civilization of India. He also studied Gandhian thought and the Sarvodaya movement. During his career, Harris wrote The Laughing Buddha, Gandhians in Contemporary India, and Radhakrishna: Profile of a Universalist.
In his time at Wooster, Harris promoted cultural understanding and awareness among students, faculty, staff, and area residents. His tenure at the College strengthened connections and developed ways for members of the Wooster community to better understand Indian and South Asian culture. Harris advised the Indian and South Asian student organizations and developed the Wooster-in-India and Wooster-in-Thailand programs. His role in organizing the annual South Asia Week brought traditional music, food, dance, and other cultural events to the College, as well as chances to learn more about the cultures on display. Harris arranged an annual India Dinner to showcase Indian cuisine. The event brought together the Indian community in Northeast Ohio and facilitated collaboration with the College. He also participated in Semester at Sea, providing his students with transformative experiences by immersing them in the cultures they were studying.
Harris received his bachelor’s degree from Lucknow Christian College in India and spent a year at the International Christian University in Tokyo, Japan. He went on to earn his Master of Divinity from Howard Divinity School in Washington, D.C., his S.T.M. from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, and his Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate School in California.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, July 8, at 12 p.m. in Wooster United Methodist Church. Read more about Harris’ life and family in his obituary, available here.
Posted in News on July 3, 2025.
