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Classical Language Status
Context:
The Union Cabinet has approved the recognition of five more languages as “classical,” expanding India’s list of culturally significant languages.
More on News:
- Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali have now been granted the prestigious classical status.
- These languages join the six already recognised as classical: Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014).
- This classification fosters greater academic and cultural engagement, while opening new opportunities for research and preservation of these ancient languages.
Criteria for Classical Language Status:
The recognition of a classical language is based on criteria established by a Linguistic Experts Committee.
The Linguistics Expert Committee includes representatives from the Union Ministries of Home and Culture, along with four to five linguistic experts at any given time. The committee is chaired by the president of the Sahitya Akademi.
To be considered classical, a language must meet the following standards:
- High Antiquity: The language must have early texts and recorded history dating back over 1,000 years.
- Ancient Literature: It must possess a body of ancient literature or texts considered cultural heritage by generations of speakers.
- Knowledge Texts: In addition to poetry, the language must have prose works, including knowledge texts, epigraphical, and inscriptional evidence.
- The literary tradition of the language must be original and not derived from another speech community.
- Distinct Evolution: The classical language and its literature may be distinct from its modern form or have evolved into newer forms, potentially discontinuous from its original structure.
Benefits of Classical Language Status:
- When a language is designated as classical, the Ministry of Education offers several benefits to promote it, including:
- Two prestigious international awards each year for distinguished scholars in the language.
- The establishment of a Centre of Excellence for studies in the classical language.
- A request to the University Grants Commission (UGC) to create Professional Chairs in Central Universities dedicated to the study of the classical language.
Ongoing Demands for Classical Language Status:
- Maithili: Despite its rich literary tradition and historical significance, Maithili has yet to receive classical status. Advocates argue that it has a documented history dating back over 2,500 years and a distinct literary heritage.
- Tulu: Similar to Maithili, Tulu speakers are pushing for recognition based on its unique cultural contributions and ancient texts.
- Gujarati: There are calls for Gujarati to be classified as a classical language, highlighting its historical literature and cultural importance.
- Konkani: The Konkani-speaking community is also seeking recognition, emphasising its distinctiveness and historical roots.