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108 Facts about Sanskrit you didn't know
The ancient heritage of India has come down to us through the medium of Sanskrit. Almost all our languages owe their being—directly or indirectly—to Sanskrit. There is a tremendous amount of literature in Sanskrit for us to enjoy. Sanskrit, as the earliest of the classical languages, has contributed immensely not only to other classical languages but also to current languages. Sanskrit is also the oldest language in the world, with attested literature stretching back to 6,000 years ago, and with a continuous tradition of use up to now. All this makes Sanskrit the bearer of Indian culture and truly our mother tongue. This book is an attempt to bring to Indians and others the great treasure that is Sanskrit. It gives readers an overall idea of what the Sanskrit language is; how ancient the language is; its contributions to the world; the origins of the language and how it is related to the other languages of the world; how it evolved into the currently spoken Indian languages and still continues to be India’s lingua franca; the great amount of literature available in the language; how to analyze and appreciate the language; and finally, how, we, in the modern era, can reclaim the language for ourselves.
Kindle Edition
Published June 6, 2023
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June 19, 2025
Sanskrit, often hailed as "Devavāṇī", the language of the gods, stands as a cultural cornerstone of Indian civilization. "108 Facts About Sanskrit You Didn't Know" attempts to demystify this ancient linguistic marvel by presenting a compelling bouquet of historical, linguistic, literary, and philosophical insights into the Sanskrit language.
The book is divided into easily digestible facts, each presenting a unique facet of Sanskrit from its historical relevance to its phonetic precision, philosophical depth, and scientific recognition. The book is accessible, almost encyclopedic, but curated with a narrative flow that doesn’t exhaust the reader.
The book’s strongest contribution is its re-contextualization of Sanskrit not just as a “classical” language, but as a carrier of cosmological, philosophical, and scientific traditions. Facts on how Sanskrit was used in early computing models, and how its grammar influenced modern algorithms, are particularly fascinating.
Its exploration of phonetics and etymology is another jewel presenting Sanskrit as a near-perfect language where sound, meaning, and metaphysics align. The fact that Panini’s grammar predates most linguistic theories in the West by centuries is both humbling and illuminating.
✍️ Strengths :
🔸The book excels in covering a wide range of subjects like Vedic literature, grammar (Paninian system), linguistic influence on Indo-European tongues, Sanskrit’s algorithmic structure, and its role in AI and computational linguistics today.
🔸It subtly but firmly reclaims the language from the elite ivory towers of academia and places it in the hands of common readers, positioning Sanskrit as not just a heritage but a right.
🔸The author handles a dense subject with scholarly care but writes in a tone that is surprisingly engaging and devoid of jargon. It doesn’t intimidate; it invites.
🔸The book echoes the emotional urgency of reviving Sanskrit in contemporary India not through mere ritualistic chants, but through everyday appreciation, study, and cultural integration.
✒️ Areas for improvement :
▪️While the celebratory tone is inspiring, the book occasionally reads more like a glorification campaign than an objective account. The nuances of Sanskrit’s decline, issues of accessibility in ancient times, and its limited modern application are glossed over.
▪️It misses opportunities to engage with alternative perspectives like why Sanskrit failed to become a mass language, or why modern Indians resist its reintegration.
▪️Readers intrigued by the language are left wondering what to do next. A section suggesting modern resources, Sanskrit-learning communities, or beginner’s guides would have made the book practically valuable.
In conclusion, it is a rich, illuminating read part love letter, part manifesto. While not without its biases, it fulfills a much-needed cultural and intellectual gap. It encourages readers not just to admire Sanskrit, but to engage with it, question its journey, and perhaps revive it in their own way. If you're a language lover, cultural enthusiast, or just someone curious about India's linguistic legacy, this book will offer not just knowledge but pride and purpose.
The book is divided into easily digestible facts, each presenting a unique facet of Sanskrit from its historical relevance to its phonetic precision, philosophical depth, and scientific recognition. The book is accessible, almost encyclopedic, but curated with a narrative flow that doesn’t exhaust the reader.
The book’s strongest contribution is its re-contextualization of Sanskrit not just as a “classical” language, but as a carrier of cosmological, philosophical, and scientific traditions. Facts on how Sanskrit was used in early computing models, and how its grammar influenced modern algorithms, are particularly fascinating.
Its exploration of phonetics and etymology is another jewel presenting Sanskrit as a near-perfect language where sound, meaning, and metaphysics align. The fact that Panini’s grammar predates most linguistic theories in the West by centuries is both humbling and illuminating.
✍️ Strengths :
🔸The book excels in covering a wide range of subjects like Vedic literature, grammar (Paninian system), linguistic influence on Indo-European tongues, Sanskrit’s algorithmic structure, and its role in AI and computational linguistics today.
🔸It subtly but firmly reclaims the language from the elite ivory towers of academia and places it in the hands of common readers, positioning Sanskrit as not just a heritage but a right.
🔸The author handles a dense subject with scholarly care but writes in a tone that is surprisingly engaging and devoid of jargon. It doesn’t intimidate; it invites.
🔸The book echoes the emotional urgency of reviving Sanskrit in contemporary India not through mere ritualistic chants, but through everyday appreciation, study, and cultural integration.
✒️ Areas for improvement :
▪️While the celebratory tone is inspiring, the book occasionally reads more like a glorification campaign than an objective account. The nuances of Sanskrit’s decline, issues of accessibility in ancient times, and its limited modern application are glossed over.
▪️It misses opportunities to engage with alternative perspectives like why Sanskrit failed to become a mass language, or why modern Indians resist its reintegration.
▪️Readers intrigued by the language are left wondering what to do next. A section suggesting modern resources, Sanskrit-learning communities, or beginner’s guides would have made the book practically valuable.
In conclusion, it is a rich, illuminating read part love letter, part manifesto. While not without its biases, it fulfills a much-needed cultural and intellectual gap. It encourages readers not just to admire Sanskrit, but to engage with it, question its journey, and perhaps revive it in their own way. If you're a language lover, cultural enthusiast, or just someone curious about India's linguistic legacy, this book will offer not just knowledge but pride and purpose.
Displaying 1 of 1 review