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The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Modi, approves to confers Classical Language status on Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali, highlighting their significance in preserving India’s cultural heritage and creating new employment opportunities.
NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approves to confer the status of Classical Language for Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali. These languages play a vital role in preserving India’s rich and ancient cultural heritage, showcasing the unique history and milestones of each community.
Official statement says that “A proposal from the Maharashtra Government in 2013 was received in the Ministry requesting Classical Language status to Marathi, which was forwarded to the LEC. The LEC recommended Marathi for Classical Language. During the inter-ministerial consultations on the draft note for cabinet in 2017 for conferring classical status to the Marathi language, MHA advised to revise the criteria and make it stricter. PMO vide its comment stated that the Ministry may conduct an exercise to find out how many other languages are likely to become eligible. In the meantime, proposal from Bihar, Assam, West Bengal was also received for conferring status of Classical Language to Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali.”
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On October 12, 2004, the Government of India established a new category of languages called “Classical Languages,” designating Tamil as the first language to receive this status. To qualify as a Classical Language, certain criteria were set. These include having a long history of early texts, a rich body of ancient literature that is valued by generations, and a literary tradition that is original and not borrowed from other communities.
In November 2004, the Ministry of Culture formed a Linguistic Experts Committee to review languages for Classical Language status. In November 2005, the criteria were updated, and Sanskrit was also declared a Classical Language. The new criteria included a recorded history of 1,500 to 2,000 years, an original literary tradition, and a distinction between classical and modern forms. Since then, the Government has granted Classical Language status to several languages, including Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia, with specific notification dates for each.
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The Ministry of Education promotes Classical Languages through various initiatives. In 2020, three Central Universities were established to advance Sanskrit. The Central Institute of Classical Tamil facilitates the translation of ancient texts and offers courses. Additionally, Centres for Excellence for Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia were created in Mysuru. The Ministry also supports awards and recognition for achievements in Classical Languages.
Inclusion of given languages in the list of Classical Language will create significant employment opportunities, particularly in academic and research fields. Additionally, the preservation, documentation, and digitization of ancient texts of these languages will generate jobs in archiving, translation, publishing, and digital media.
States/districts covered:
The primary states involved are Maharashtra (Marathi), Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh (Pali and Prakrit), West Bengal (Bengali), and Assam (Assamese). The broader cultural and academic impact will extend nationally and internationally.
