As per official sources, the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, has lauded the ‘Cabinet Decision’ to confer classical language status to five languages: Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali.
Posting on X, PM Modi shared his immense delight, that the Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali, and Prakrit now have the status of being a classical language, individually.
PM Modi further illustrates that Assamese culture has thrived for centuries. It has given a rich literary tradition. May this language continue to become even more popular in the times to come.
Bengali language has been conferred the status, especially during the auspicious time of Durga Puja. Bengali literature has inspired countless people for years.
Marathi is India’s pride. This acknowledges the rich cultural contribution of Marathi in the nation’s history. Marathi has always been a cornerstone of Indian heritage.
Pali and Prakrit are at the root of India’s culture. These are languages of spirituality, wisdom, and philosophy. These are also known for their literary traditions. Their recognition as Classical Languages recognizes their timeless influence on Indian thought, culture, and history.
PM Modi revealed his anticipation that being recognized as a classical language individually; more people will be motivated to learn about it.
Being one of the world’s most linguistically diversified nations, India has 121 languages and 270 mother tongues. Indian states can choose their official language(s) through legislation. India has two Official Languages (Hindi and English) and 22 Scheduled Languages as per the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India – Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Maithili, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santhali, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu – to avoid any hindrance to both public and private affairs.
The Republic of India officially recognizes 11 languages as the Classical languages of India. In 2004, the Government of India declared that languages that met certain strict criteria could be accorded the status of a “Classical Language” of India.
The Indian classical languages, or the Shastriya Bhasha or the Semmozhi, is an umbrella term for the languages of India having high antiquity and valuable, original, and distinct literary heritage. In 2004, the Govt of India declared that languages, like Tamil, that met certain strict criteria could be accorded the status of a “Classical Language” of India.
The tentative criteria for the age of antiquity of “classical language” was assumed to be at least 1,000 years of existence. The criteria were revised from time to time by the authorities. It was instituted by the Ministry of Culture along with the Linguistic Experts’ Committee. During the time Sanskrit was given classical language status in 2005; the high antiquity of its early texts/recorded history from 1500 to 2000 years.
The classical language and literature being distinct from modern, there may also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots.
This criterion was kept unchanged for further selections of Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia.
Following, the Sahitya Akademi set high antiquity of early texts/recorded history from 1500 to 2000 years; body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a heritage by generations of speakers; knowledge texts, especially prose texts in addition to poetry, epigraphical, and inscriptional evidence; the classical languages and literature could be distinct from its current form or could be discontinuous with later forms of its offshoots.
Benefits
As per the Government of India, the benefits for a language declared “Classical Language” are:
Two major international awards for scholars of eminence in Classical Indian Languages are awarded annually.
A Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Languages is set up.
The UGC will be requested to create, to start with at least in the Central Universities, a certain number of Professional Chairs for Classical Languages for scholars of eminence in Classical Indian Languages.
Officially recognized classical languages are Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia, Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali, and Prakrit. Despite profound historical and cultural significance, ‘Maithili’ is yet to be recognized as a “classical language” by the Government of India, leading to ongoing demands for such a recognition.
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