In a significant move, the Union Cabinet on Thursday approved the recognition of five more languages as classical languages: Marathi, Bengali, Pali, Prakrit, and Assamese. This decision nearly doubles the number of languages holding this prestigious status from six to 11.
Previously, the classical language status had been granted to Tamil (2004), Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia (2014). With the inclusion of the newly recognized languages, India’s rich linguistic diversity gains further acknowledgment.
Decade-Long Demand Fulfilled
The demand for granting classical language status to some of these languages, particularly Marathi, has been pending for over a decade. In 2014, the then Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan formed a committee of language experts, which concluded that Marathi met all the necessary criteria for classical recognition. The report was forwarded to the Centre, yet no action was taken until now.
Towards the end of September, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh had accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of ignoring the long-standing demand, particularly for Marathi, despite the well-argued case submitted by Chavan. Ramesh had noted that no language had been granted classical status during Modi’s tenure.
With the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, this decision addresses the growing demand for Marathi and other languages, symbolizing a significant cultural achievement for the states and their heritage.
Criteria for Classical Language Status
To qualify as a classical language in India, a language must meet several stringent criteria, including:
- High antiquity of the language’s early texts/recorded history over a period of 1,500–2,000 years.
- A body of ancient literature or texts considered a heritage by generations of speakers.
- Evidence of knowledge texts, especially prose, in addition to poetry, inscriptions, and epigraphical records.
- The classical form of the language may be distinct from its modern counterpart or show discontinuity with later forms.
By fulfilling these criteria, these five languages now join the prestigious list of classical languages, allowing for government-backed research, conservation, and promotion of their ancient texts and cultural significance.
