Nomads, Kings and Traders

Majority of Indians are bilingual; many are also multilingual. What is the reason for this? When Peggy Mohan delves into the depths of this intriguing question, she discovers how migrations, both from outside and within India, have shaped us; she also realizes that we are all of mixed origins.

Through the story of how primitive Sanskrit transformed into the language we recognize as Sanskrit today, she explains how Vedic people mingled with local communities. The same narrative repeats itself in relation to Malayalam after Namboodiri Brahmins migrated south. She encounters the surprisingly unique paths taken by Marathi, Urdu, and some Northeastern languages. Through them, hitherto unknown perspectives on India's social history are unveiled.

Focusing on the present, she elaborates on the paradox of English gaining dominance after the British departure. She shows, through a detailed and sharp observation, how the past adoption of English as an administrative language now poses a threat to the very existence of Indian languages.

'Wanderers, Kings, Merchants' is the result of decades of research and deep engagement with the socio-historical origins of languages. This work sheds light on the intermingling of communities that has been taking place in India for several millennia. It emphasizes that the notion of ethnic 'purity' is a myth spread by the powerful for their own convenience.