Context: The Union Cabinet approved classical language status to Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Pali, and Prakrit.
India has had six classical languages till now: Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Sanskrit, and Odia.
Tamil was the first language to be given classical status in 2004 followed by Sanskrit in 2005.
With the new additions, 11 languages in India have Classical Language status.
Classical Language Status:
- The term ‘Indian classical languages,’ or Shastriya Bhasha, encompasses languages in India with a rich history, significant antiquity, and a distinct literary heritage.
- In October 2004, the Centre decided to create a new category of languages as ‘Classical Languages.’
- In November 2004, a Linguistic Experts Committee (LEC) was constituted by the Ministry of Culture under the Sahitya Akademi to examine the eligibility of the languages proposed to be accorded classical language status.
- The Linguistics Expert Committee comprises representatives of the Union Ministries of Home, Culture, and four or five linguistic experts at any given time.
- It is chaired by the President of the Sahitya Akademi.
- The criteria for conferring the status of a ‘Classical Language,’ was brought which was implemented by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Linguistic Experts' Committee. This committee, formed by the government, evaluates requests for classifying languages as Classical Languages.
- According to the Union Culture Ministry, the criteria for bestowing classical status was revised by the Linguistics Experts Committee, in July, 2024.
- 9 classical languages are listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
- The Eighth Schedule consists of 22 languages.
- These are: (1) Assamese, (2) Bengali, (3) Gujarati, (4) Hindi, (5) Kannada, (6) Kashmiri, (7) Konkani, (8) Malayalam, (9) Manipuri, (10) Marathi, (11) Nepali, (12) Oriya, (13) Punjabi, (14) Sanskrit, (15) Sindhi, (16) Tamil, (17) Telugu, (18) Urdu (19) Bodo, (20) Santhali, (21) Maithili and (22) Dogri.
To be recognized as a ‘Classical Language,’ a language must satisfy the following criteria:
Criteria (November, 2005)
- Demonstrated high antiquity of its early texts or a recorded history spanning 1500–2000 years.
- Possession of a body of ancient literature or texts considered valuable heritage by successive generations of speakers.
- Originality of the literary tradition, not borrowed from another speech community.
- Distinctiveness between the classical language and literature from its modern counterparts, potentially involving a discontinuity.
Revised Criteria (July, 2024):
- High antiquity of (its) is early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500- 2000 years.
- A 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.
Languages granted Classical Language status:
- Tamil: Recognized as a classical language in 2004
- Sanskrit: Officially recognized as a classical language on January 26, 2005
- Telugu: Achieved official recognition as a classical language in India in 2008
- Kannada: Officially recognized as a classical language in India in 2008
- Malayalam: Recognized as a classical language in 2013
- Odia: Officially recognized as a classical language on February 20, 2014
- Marathi; Assamese; Bengali; Pali and Prakrit: 2024
Benefits of Classical Status:
- The Ministry of Education takes steps to promote classical languages.
- Three central universities were established in 2020 through an Act of Parliament for promotion of Sanskrit language.
- The Central Institute of Classical Tamil was set up to facilitate the translation of ancient Tamil texts, and offer courses in Tamil.
- To enhance the study and preservation of classical languages, the Centres for Excellence for studies in Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia were also set up.
- Two major international awards annually for distinguished scholars in Classical Indian Languages.
- Requesting the University Grants Commission to initiate, initially in Central Universities, a designated number of Professional Chairs for Classical Languages for eminent scholars in Classical Indian Languages.