India, June 29 -- Language lovers often find themselves lost in the labyrinthine rules of grammar. But Yasmin Shaikh, an acclaimed grammarian and Marathi language expert, has always viewed grammar as "delicate and poetic, akin to a well-composed verse".

Pune-based Shaikh, who turned 100 last week, has spent over seven decades immersed in the elegance and intricacies of Marathi grammar, championing it with unwavering devotion. She looks upon the language as an inheritance which must be preserved in its pristine form. "I am a humble admirer of Marathi. It is my mother tongue, and my love for it is deeply rooted," Shaikh said, sitting at her Baner home. "I believe it is my responsibility to protect and nurture it. Today, the younger generat...