CLASSICAL LANGUAGE
On October 3, 2024, the Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, granted
Classical Language status to five languages:
- Marathi,
- Pali,
- Prakrit,
- Assamese,
- Bengali.
The Linguistic Experts Committees (LEC) under the Sahitya Akademi identified Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali as meeting the revised criteria for classical language status.
This initiative recognizes these languages as vital custodians of India’s ancient cultural legacy, highlighting their importance in preserving the rich history, literature, and traditions of their communities.
IMPORTANCE OF CLASSICAL LANGUAGE
Why Declare a Language Classical?
The designation of a language as classical serves multiple purposes:
- Cultural Preservation: It acknowledges the historical significance of the language and its role in maintaining India’s rich cultural and intellectual heritage.
- Knowledge Transmission: Classical languages have historically helped in transmitting philosophies and values across generations, safeguarding traditional knowledge systems.
- Cultural Identity: This recognition emphasizes the contribution of these languages to India’s diverse cultural fabric, reinforcing the importance of linguistic diversity.
CRITERIA FOR DECLARING A CLASSICAL LANGUAGE
In 2004, the Government of India established specific criteria for classifying languages
as classical. The primary criteria include:
- High Antiquity: The language must have a recorded history of over 1,000 years or early texts.
- Valuable Literature: It should possess a significant body of ancient literature recognized as heritage by generations of speakers.
- Original Literary Tradition: The literary tradition must be original and not derived from another community.
REVISIONS IN THE CRITERIA
- 2005 Revision: Required a history of 1,500 to 2,000 years, included ancient literature, and recognized possible discontinuities with modern forms.
- 2024 Revision: Maintained the antiquity requirement of 1,500 to 2,000 years, emphasized a body of ancient literature and knowledge texts, including prose, and allowed for distinctions between classical and modern forms.
HOW MANY CLASSICAL LANGUAGES IN INDIA?
With the recent addition, the total number of classical languages in India is now 11.
STEPS TAKEN TO PROMOTE CLASSICAL LANGUAGES
The Ministry of Education has initiated several measures to promote these languages, including:
- Central Universities: Established in 2020 to advance the study of Sanskrit.
- Central Institute of Classical Tamil: Focuses on translating ancient Tamil texts and promoting research.
- Centres for Excellence: Created for the study of Classical Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia under the Central Institute of Indian Languages in Mysuru.
- National and International Awards: Introduced to recognize achievements in classical languages.
Additional Benefits of Classical Language Status
- National Awards for Classical Languages: To honor contributions to these languages.
- University Chairs and Dedicated Centers: Promoting research and studies in classical languages.
IMPACT OF DECLARING A LANGUAGE AS CLASSICAL LANGUAGE
The classification of these languages is expected to yield several significant impacts:
- Employment Opportunities: Increased job prospects in academia, research, translation, archiving, publishing, and digital media.
- Preservation and Documentation: Efforts to preserve, document, and digitize ancient texts will generate jobs and promote research.
- Encouragement of Scholarly Research: Increased studies related to ancient texts and knowledge systems, vital to India’s intellectual identity.
- Cultural Pride: This recognition fosters pride among speakers, promoting national integration and cultural self-reliance.
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