
Patrick S. D. McCartney, "Sanskrit-Speaking' Villages, Linguistic Utopias and the Metaphysics of Development" (Routledge, 2026)
From New Books in Indian Religions by Marshall Poe
May 28, 2026 · 37 min
About this episode
Patrick S. D. McCartney discusses his book on the contemporary relevance of Sanskrit and its role in development.
Sanskrit-Speaking' Villages, Linguistic Utopias and the Metaphysics of Development (Routledge, 2026) is a recollection of the McCartney's journey across 'Sanskritland, ' which is the term coined to refer to the utopian landscape within which the 'Language of the Gods' is thought to be spoken. There are three destinations on the author's journey. This study sheds light on how, why, and where Sanskrit is spoken in the twenty-first century, the complex and dynamic historical and contemporary that have allowed this, and how both yoga and Sanskrit are instruments for development and soft-power projects. This book is an essential read for scholars and students of linguistic anthropology, Indology, and sustainable development. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/indian-religions
People in this episode
Host: Marshall Poe
Guest: Patrick S. D. McCartney
Topics covered
- Sanskrit
- linguistic anthropology
- Indology
- sustainable development
- yoga
- metaphysics
Keywords
- Sanskrit
- linguistic utopias
- development
- yoga
- sustainable development
- anthropology
- Indology
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Routledge
Books & works: Sanskrit-Speaking' Villages, Linguistic Utopias and the Metaphysics of Development
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