5 New Languages Granted the Classical Language Status

Syllabus: GS1/Culture

Context

• The Union Cabinet has granted classical language status to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali, increasing recognized classical languages to eleven.
  • The Cabinet also updated the eligibility criteria for classical languages under the Centre’s Language Expert Committee.

Classical Languages

• India had six classical languages — Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia.
  • Tamil was declared a classical language in 2004, Sanskrit in 2005, Kannada in 2008, Telugu in 2008, Malayalam in 2013, and Odia in 2014. 
  • All the Classical Languages are listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
• Criteria: It should have high antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1,500-2,000 years,
  • a body of ancient literature or texts that is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers, 
  • the presence of “knowledge texts”, especially prose texts in addition to poetry, epigraphical and inscriptional evidence, 
  • the said language and literature should be distinct from its modern format.
• Benefits: The Education Ministry provides certain benefits to promote it such as:
  • two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in the said languages, 
  • a Centre of Excellence for Studies in the classical language is set up, 
  • and the University Grants Commission is requested to start with a certain number of Chairs for the classical language at least in the Central Universities.

Source: HT