Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali Get 'Classical' Language Status

The Central government today conferred the tag of classical language to 5 more Indian languages, including Marathi and Bengali. The all 5 languages that have got the tag of classical languages are Marathi, Bengali, Pali, Prakrit, and Assamese. 

As Assamese language gets the tag of classical language, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma posted this on X and showed his gratitude. He said, “On behalf of the people of Assam , I extend my gratitude to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji and the entire Union Cabinet for the historic decision to accord Assamese the status of Classical Language.”

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says, “By now, we had Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Odia were the notified classical languages... The government is taking many steps to conserve and promote the classical languages and to preserve the rich heritage of these languages.”

Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamta Banerjee also reacted to this news and posted this on her official X account and said, "Most happy to share that Bengali/ Bangla has been finally accorded the status of a classical language by Government of India.

We had been trying to snatch this recognition from Ministry of Culture, GOI and we had submitted three volumes of research findings in favour of our contention.

Union government has accepted our well-researched claim today evening  and we finally reach the cultural apex in the body of languages in India."

Reaction From Prime Minister Narendra Modi

As 5 more languages get the classical tag Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared a post on X and said, "Our Government cherishes and celebrates India's rich history and culture. We have also been unwavering in our commitment to popularising regional languages.

I am extremely glad the Cabinet has decided that Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit will be conferred the status of Classical Languages!

Each of them are beautiful languages, highlighting our vibrant diversity.

Congratulations to everyone." 

“A historic and Golden Day,” Says Devendra Fadnavis Dy CM of Maharashatra 

Devendra Fadnavis shared a video with a caption that reads, "A historic and golden day.
Very proud moment!

We are fortunate to speak Marathi
Jahlo is truly blessed to hear Marathi
Religion, creed, caste, one knows Marathi
In this world, Marathi is considered my...

#मायमराठी #अभिजातमराठी"

Now the total number of classical Indian languages has reached to number 11 and the other Classical languages are Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Oriya had already got the tag.

To Be Recognized As A Classical Language, Certain Criteria Must Be Fulfilled:

- The language must have a recorded history and early texts dating back 1,500-2,000 years.

- It should possess a significant body of ancient literature, valued as cultural heritage by successive generations.

- The presence of knowledge texts, particularly prose, alongside poetry, epigraphical, and inscriptional evidence is essential.

- Classical languages and their literature may differ from their modern forms or have discontinuity with their later offshoots.

Among the five newly recognized classical languages, Assamese, Bengali, and Marathi are widely spoken, while Pali is spoken in some regions of India, as well as in Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam. Pali is the language of Buddha's sermons and is taught at universities, including those in Allahabad and Patna.

What are the Benefits?

Government initiatives led by the Ministry of Education have promoted classical languages. These include establishing three Central Universities for Sanskrit and the Central Institute of Classical Tamil, which supports translation of ancient texts, research, and academic programs for students and scholars.

In addition, Centres for Excellence dedicated to classical Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia have been set up under the Central Institute of Indian Languages in Mysuru.

The government has introduced national and international awards to encourage achievements in classical languages. Plans are underway to establish national awards, university Chairs, and promotion centers for the newly recognized classical languages, creating significant employment opportunities in research, preservation, documentation, and digitization of ancient texts.