Hachette India

The Greatest Books of Ancient India : Incredible Ideas about Science, Music, Maths, Art and More

Dr. Pradeep Chakravarthy

Dr. R. Thiagarajan

A 2,000-year-old medical manual described plastic surgery – centuries before anyone else!

An age-old artists' guide laid down exact measurements for every part of the body, from tooth to toenail.

An astronomy and maths handbook from over 1,500 years ago calculated the length of Earth's year – missing the mark by just 3–4 minutes!

No computers, machines or modern labs. Yet thousands of years ago on the Indian subcontinent, brilliant minds mapped the skies, decoded numbers, designed temples, and revolutionized medicine, farming and the arts – recording it all in Sanskrit verses.

The Greatest Books of Ancient India unveils 14 extraordinary texts – especially for young readers and curious adults – by stargazers, healers, architects, botanists and thinkers, whose discoveries still matter. In these classic works of knowledge, from the Aryabhatiya to the Arthashastra, and from the Mayamata to the Natya Shastra, you can explore puzzles, experiments and breakthroughs that shaped civilization – long before today's technology. Travel back in time to discover the astounding achievements of ancient geniuses.

Classification : History
Pub Date : APR 16, 2026
Imprint : Hachette India Children's Books
Page Extent : 208
Binding : PB
ISBN : 9789357313964
Price : INR 399

Dr. Pradeep Chakravarthy

Prof. (Dr.) R. Thiagarajan started his career as a teacher and went on to become Reader and Head, Department of Sanskrit, Presidency College, Chennai, teaching Sanskrit and allied cultural subjects there for over 30 years. He has authored many audio and print books in Tamil, Sanskrit and English, besides translations and textbooks for schools and colleges. He is the founder of the Fellowship of Sanskrit Culture and has been awarded twice by the governor of Tamil Nadu for his contributions to Sanskrit. He is the chairman of Swami Dayananda's Digital Library and Research Centre, Chennai, and the chairperson of the Sanskrit Text Book Committee, Government of Tamil Nadu.

Dr. R. Thiagarajan

Dr. Pradeep Chakravarthy graduated from the London School of Economics, UK, and JNU, Delhi. He has a PhD in history. His corporate career at TVS, Cognizant, Infosys and McKinsey helps him connect history to human behaviour.

He has authored 12 books for adults, and published several articles in magazines and newspapers on history and its relevance today. He has started 'Anantya in the Village’, a heritage hotel close to one of India's oldest villages where he organizes summer workshops for children. His first book for young readers, The History of South India for Children, was published by Hachette India in 2024.