Ashok Aklujkar

Ashok Aklujkar, the author of Sanskrit: an Easy Introduction to an Enchanting Language, received his M.A. degree in Sanskrit and Pali from the University of Poona and his Ph.D. degree in Sanskrit and Indian Studies from Harvard University. He taught courses in Sanskrit language and in the related mythological and philosophical literatures (occasionally also in Indian belles lettres in general) at the University of British Columbia between 1969 and 2001. His published research is mostly in the areas of Sanskrit linguistic tradition and poetics. For the last several years he is engaged in the ambitious project of preparing critical editions of the works of Bhartṛhari, a grammarian-philosopher, and of the commentaries elucidating those works. Advanced students have worked under Aklujkar's guidance in the areas of Buddhist and Brahmanical philosophy, religion, and mythology.

1. Sir Parashurambhau College, University of Poona, B.A., 1962.
2. University of Poona, M.A., 1964.
3. Harvard University, Ph.D., 1970.

1. Head of the Department of Asian Studies, 1980–1985
2. Creator of funds to enable extraordinary students to work as research or teaching assistants and to participate in learned society meetings.
3. Founder, Canadian Association of Sanskrit and Related Studies, Secretary-Treasurer and Newsletter editor for most years.
4. Member, Consultative Committee, International Association of Sanskrit Studies, 1978–present.
5. Sectional Chairman, South Asia, and member board of directors, American Oriental Society, 1980-85.
6. Member Board of Governors, Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, 1985-90.

1. American Council of Learned Societies Fellowship, 1973-74.
2. Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung Fellowship, 1973–74 (declined), 78-79, 98-99, 2007.
3. Canada Council = later Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, leave fellowships and research grants.
4. University of British Columbia, Senior Killam Fellowship, 1978–79, 1987-88.
5. "Hamburg (Humboldt Stiftung), Harvard (Infinity Foundation), Rome, Kyoto, Oxford (Shivadasani), Marburg (Mercator), and Pune (Khyentse Foundation)
6. Honoured as Vidyā-sāgara by Samskrta Mandakini Association, New Delhi at the 10th World Sanskrit Conference, 1997, and as Vyākaraṇa-prabhākara at the 18th International Congress of Vedanta, 2008.
7. World Sanskrit Award 2018, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), at Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan in New Delhi on March 7, 2019.

1. Speaker and producer on topics of Sanskritic interest, All India Radio, Poona/Pune, 1959–65, 1988, 1993.
2. Associate Editor of the Sanskrit periodical Śāradā, 1959-65.
3. Invited lectures at most institutions recognised as seats of Indological studies: Harvard, Oxford, Paris, Tuebingen, Heidelberg, Goettingen, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Rome, Kyoto, Tokyo, Seattle, Varanasi, Poona/Pune, Madras/Chennai, Mumbai, Tirupati, Baroda, etc.
4. Read papers frequently at the International Congress of Orientalists, Annual meetings of the American Oriental Society, World Sanskrit Conferences, International Congress of Vedanta, etc.

• University of British Columbia, Ashok Aklujkar, Ph.D.
• Digital commons, Saṃskṛta-Sādhutā ‘Goodness of Sanskrit’: Studies in Honour of Professor Ashok Aklujkar