About Me

B elow, I answer vague questions about myself to the best of my ability. I intend this as a more personal complement to the information on my homepage. However, nothing can beat getting to know someone through conversation, so if you have any questions, research ideas, or fun things to discuss, please reach out!

Who are you?

My name is Surya Sanjay, and I accept three pronunciations of my name: an Indianized [ˈsuːɾja(ː) ˈsʌnd͡ʒɛɪ̯], an Americanized [ˈsɝjə ˈsɑnd͡ʒej], and a hybrid [ˈsuːɹjə ˈsənd͡ʒej]. If you’re not a linguist and these symbols look unfamiliar to you, these phonetic notations are transcribed using the ipa (the International Phonetic Alphabet, not India Pale Ale). My family uses a patronymic surname convention, meaning everyone’s legal last name is their father’s first. We may have had a family name generations ago, but, even if we did, no one remembers it.

My legal name is short for my ‘religious name,’ Sūryanārāyaṇá.

My parents emigrated to the United States from Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state in India. Whereas both my parents grew up in relatively large towns in the state, I can trace my lineage back to at least three less populated places: Namandi, Tiruvarur, and southern regions in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

My mother tongue is Tamil, a language often erroneously termed the ‘oldest language in the world’ When you deliberate on the phrase ‘oldest language in the world,’ you realize that that phrase means nothing at all. Languages evolve over time, so it’s misguided, at best, to say that Tamil spoken in 100 bce is the same language as Tamil spoken now. Even then, we have records of many other languages that predate the earliest records of Tamil. albeit having a continuous 2.5-millennium written record. I’m fluent in Tamil, although some tell me the way I speak is bookish.

In Tamil, I spell my name Sanskritized ஸூர்ய ஸஂஜய, neo-Tamilized சூரிய சஞ்சய், and, most commonly, hybrid சூர்யா சஞ்ஜய்.

What are you?

Human.

When are you?

Hopefully I exist at the same time as you... don’t want any rifts in the space-time continuum.

Born in 2003, my worldview is impacted by some of the more influential technological and (popular) cultural revolutions during the 2000s and 2010s. I have a soft spot for media from those decades.

My parents played music and movies from as old as the 1960s when I grew up, so it wouldn’t be unusual to find me doing the same. In fact, the majority of the vinyl records I’ve collected include music composed before I was born, including Spirits Having Flown by the Bee Gees, some famous songs in films of M. G. Ramachandran, Heartbeat City by The Cars, and six albums from the Carnatic (Indian classical) genre.

By virtue of studying historical linguistics, I read grammars written in the 1800s and sometimes manuscripts and inscriptions that are many centuries older. I like the historical typefaces used in these works the most, and I employ them wherever and whenever possible.

My design aesthetic, as you’ll notice, is a hodge-podge of all the time periods listed above.

Where are you?

I’ve lived in Michigan my whole life. I love the nature that the state has to offer—it’s nothing like the West Coast, but it’s more than you’d think.

I’ve been fortunate enough to travel internationally with my parents growing up. I’ve been to all across the United States and Canada; the Caribbean (The Virgin Islands and The Bahamas); Europe (The United Kingdom, Spain, France, Italy, and Germany); and Asia (India, Sri Lanka, and China).

Most of the time, you’ll find me on my laptop at home, visiting new coffee shops and bars with friends and family, exploring nature nearby, and trying new forms of aerobic exercise.

Why are you?

For me, there’s no cause to live for better than to serve others. I aspire to do so through medical practice, research, and innovation.

On a personal level, I like learning new topics, trying new things, and meeting new people. These three drive the 80% of activities in my life that I can control.

How are you?

Fine at the moment. Thanks!