Cabinet Approves Classical Language Status for Five Languages Including Marathi and Bengali
Five Indian Languages, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, Marathi, and Bengali, were given the Classical Language Status by the Cabinet on Thursday, i.e., October 3. A Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved this decision.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said, “This is a historical decision and it goes very well with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the NDA government's philosophy of taking pride in our culture, taking pride in our heritage, and taking pride in all the Indian languages and the rich heritage that we have.”
Classical Languages represent different cultures across the country and the cultural significance that each community and region holds. These display how diverse and inclusive our culture is. The use of Classical Languages is important as these languages shed light on India's rich cultural history. The government believes that encouraging the use of these languages would generate many employment opportunities in related fields.
What are Classical Languages?
The Government Of India formed a new category of languages on 12 October 2004. This was called ‘Classical Languages’. Tamil was the first language given the status of a Classical Language in India. Later, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Odia, and Malayalam were included in this category.
A criteria was set for a language to be included in this category. The Criteria are as follows–
- High antiquity of its early texts/ recorded history over a thousand years.
- A body of ancient literature/ texts, considered a valuable heritage by generation of speakers.
- The literary tradition must be original and not borrowed from another speech community.
The designation of a language as classical is intended to recognize its historical significance and its role as a guardian of Bharat’s rich cultural and intellectual heritage. These languages have been essential in preserving and transmitting India's ancient knowledge systems, philosophies, and values across generations for thousands of years. For more information on Classical Languages, visit– https://pib.gov.in/PressNoteDetails.aspx?NoteId=153239&ModuleId=3®=3&lang=1
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