In a groundbreaking move that’s set to reshape the linguistic landscape of India, the Union Cabinet has made a significant announcement. On Thursday, it declared that five additional languages – Marathi, Bengali, Pali, Prakrit, and Assamese – are to be honored with the esteemed ‘classical’ language status. This pivotal decision means the total count of languages recognized as classical in India jumps from six to a whopping eleven.
Pali, which will also get the status, is the language of Buddha’s sermons.
Until now, the prestigious tag had been bestowed upon six languages: Tamil (the pioneer recipient in 2004), followed by Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia, with Odia being the most recent before this announcement.
The Push for Recognition
This decision has come as a breath of fresh air, especially for the proponents who have long voiced the richness and historical depth of these languages. Among them was the then Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who established a committee of language experts back in 2014 to advocate for Marathi’s recognition. The committee robustly proposed that Marathi satisfied all the rigorous criteria for classical status, leading to a report being submitted to the Centre.
In fact, just last month, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for overlooking Marathi’s bid for classical language recognition. Ramesh highlighted that during Modi’s tenure, not a single new language had been accorded the classical label, a stance seemingly revisited with this latest cabinet decision ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
What It Takes to Be Classical
To qualify as a classical language, a few stringent criteria must be met. These include having a documented history of more than 1,500-2,000 years, possession of ancient literary texts considered valuable by successive generations, and evidence of original scholarly texts, besides prose, like inscriptions and epigraphs. Also, the classical language and its literature should either be distinct or have a clear discontinuity with their later forms or offshoots.
While Assamese, Bengali, and Marathi are widely spoken, Pali, on the other hand, enjoys a more niche appeal. Known as the language of Buddha’s sermons, Pali is not just confined to India but is also spoken in places like Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam and is taught in universities, including those in Allahabad and Patna.
What This Means Going Forward
The Ministry of Education has not been sitting on its laurels when it comes to promoting classical languages. Prior to this announcement, various measures had already been put in place including the founding of Central Universities focusing on Sanskrit, and the Central Institute of Classical Tamil for promoting ancient Tamil texts, research, and offering courses. Similar Centers of Excellence have been established for Classical Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia under the Central Institute of Indian Languages in Mysuru.
The sources reveal that similar initiatives, including national and international awards, Chairs in universities, and promotional centers are planned for the newly recognized classical languages. The ripple effect of this decision is expected to be massive, potentially creating ample opportunities not just in the sphere of research but also in the preservation, documentation, and digitization of ancient texts.
Today’s announcement is more than a mere augmentation of India’s classical language tally; it’s a testament to the country’s rich and diverse linguistic heritage. By recognizing and celebrating these languages, we take a significant step towards preserving our collective cultural identity, ensuring that these ancient tongues continue to thrive for generations to come.