Five Indian Languages, Including Marathi and Bengali, Granted Classical Status
Five Indian Languages, Including Marathi and Bengali, Granted Classical Status
In a landmark decision, the Union Cabinet has approved the recognition of five additional languages—Marathi, Bengali, Pali, Prakrit, and Assamese—as “Classical Languages.” This move brings the total number of classical languages in India from six to eleven. The languages previously holding this prestigious status are Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia.
This decision fulfills long-standing demands for the recognition of certain regional languages, particularly Marathi. In 2014, then Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan established a committee of language experts, which concluded that Marathi met all necessary criteria to be classified as a classical language. The report was subsequently submitted to the central government for consideration.
The recognition comes just ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, with Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh recently criticizing the Modi government for its delay in granting Marathi classical status. He pointed out that during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure, no languages had been given this designation until now.
In response to the announcement, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her delight over Bengali’s new classical status. She posted on social media platform X, stating that extensive research was submitted to the Ministry of Culture to support Bengali’s case. She hailed the recognition as a significant cultural achievement for the state.
Criteria for Classical Language Status:
To be recognized as a classical language, several criteria must be met:
- 1. The language must have ancient texts or recorded history spanning 1,500 to 2,000 years.
- 2. A rich body of ancient literature that is regarded as a cultural heritage by generations of speakers.
- 3. The language should have a history of both prose and poetry, including inscriptional evidence.
- 4. There may be a discontinuity between the classical form of the language and its modern form.
Of the newly added classical languages, Assamese, Bengali, and Marathi are widely spoken, while Pali is primarily the language of Buddha’s teachings and is spoken in some regions of India and Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Pali is also taught in academic institutions such as those in Allahabad and Patna.
Benefits of Classical Language Status:
The Ministry of Education has implemented various initiatives to support classical languages, such as establishing universities dedicated to Sanskrit and the Central Institute of Classical Tamil for promoting Tamil literature. Similar efforts are underway to promote Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia through centers of excellence under the Central Institute of Indian Languages in Mysuru.
With the addition of these five languages, the government plans to introduce national awards, establish Chairs in universities, and set up dedicated centers to promote the study and preservation of these languages. This will not only encourage research but also create employment opportunities in the documentation, preservation, and digitization of ancient texts.
In the coming years, the newly recognized classical languages will see increased academic and cultural attention, with efforts aimed at promoting their literary and historical significance on both national and international platforms.
