Brilliant essay by Sheldon Pollock

There aren't many (actually we can't think of any) Sankritists of Sheldon Pollock's subtlety, scholarship, complexity and renown who can write accessibly for non-specialist readers. Read Professor Pollock's essay here for a fresh understanding of the classics. And then turn to his book.

The Language of the Gods in the World of Men

SANSKRIT, CULTURE AND POWER IN PREMODERN INDIA

by
SHELDON POLLOCK
WINNER OF
The Coomaraswamy Book Prize, Association for Asian Studies

The 32nd Lionel Trilling Award, Columbia College and Flora Levy Foundation of Lafayette, LA.

The 2006 Professional and Scholarly Publishing Division Awards for Axcellence in Literature, Language, & Linguistics, The Professional and Scholarly Publishing Division of the Association of American Publishers

In this work of impressive scholarship, Sheldon Pollock explores the remarkable rise and fall of Sanskrit, India’s ancient language, as a vehicle for poetry and polity by tracing the two great moments of this transformation. He asks whether the very different histories of these two moments challenge current theories of culture and power and suggest new possibilities for practice.

“Truly breathtaking in its scope and originality”
The Telegraph

“Magisterial . . . The kind of scholarly synthesis and insightful interpretation that comes along, at most, once in a generation or two”
Journal of Asian Studies

“An intriguing study of classical and medieval India, but also a useful contribution to the theoretical literature . . . A grand narrative”
Journal of American Academy of Religion

THE VIDEO OF SHELDON POLLOCK'S KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE JAIPUR LITERATURE FESTIVAL 2011 IS HERE.

Rs 695 / 702 pages / ISBN 81-7824-275-3 / for sale in South Asia only / Copublished with Columbia University Press

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