New Classical Languages

Why in news?

Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved to confer the status of Classical Language to five Indian languages.

Need for classical status – To recognize the historical significance and role of the language as a guardian of Bharat’s rich cultural and intellectual heritage.
Classical languages – They are ancient languages with independent traditions and a rich literary history that continue to influence various literary styles and philosophical texts.
Introduction– It was first introduced in 2004 in India.

Tamil was the first language to get the Classical language status in 2004.

Responsible authority – Earlier, it was the Ministry of Home Affairs but then the Ministry of Culture took over the responsibility since 2005 for further implementations and future recognitions.
Linguistic Experts Committee (LEC) – It is established by the Ministry of Culture to assess future proposals for the recognition of classical languages.
- Composition - Representatives of the Union Ministries of Home, Culture and four to five linguistic experts.
- Chaired by - The president of the Sahitya Akademi.
It was established the in 2004 and in 2024.
Importance – By recognizing a language as classical, the government acknowledges their deep-rooted antiquity, vast literary traditions, and their invaluable contribution to the cultural fabric of the nation.

Criteria in 2004 – High antiquity of its early texts/ recorded history over a thousand years.
A body of ancient literature/ texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generation of speakers.
The literary tradition must be original and not borrowed from another speech community.
Revision of criteria – It was revised two times, in 2005 and 2024, based on the recommendations of Linguistic Experts Committees (LEC).

2005 Criteria for Classical Language Status

Existing – A body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers.
The literary tradition must be original and not borrowed from another speech community.
Modified – High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years.
Added - The classical language and literature being distinct from modern, there may also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots.

2024 Criteria for Classical Language Status

Existing – High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500- 2000 years.
A body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers.
The Classical Languages and literature could be distinct from its current form or could be discontinuous with later forms of its offshoots.
Added - Knowledge texts, especially prose texts in addition to poetry, epigraphical and inscriptional evidence.
Deleted - The literary tradition must be original and not borrowed from another speech community.

Prakrit - It was the vernacular of the common folk in ancient India, and the language of heterodox religions like Buddhism and Jainism.
The term ‘Prakrit’ derived from Sanskrit word ‘prakriti’ meaning ‘source’ or ‘origin’.
- Linguistic group - Middle Indo-Aryan languages

Different dialects of Prakrit
Magadhi	It is the official language of the Mauryan court and used in the Ashokan edicts. It evolved into modern-day languages such as Bengali, Assamese, Odia, Bhojpuri, Magahi, and Maithili.
Ardhamagadhi	Literally “half-Magadhi” which is prominently used by Jain scholars.
Shauraseni	It was used by the women from lower class women and people in plays. It later evolved into Hindustani, Punjabi, and other languages of the Hindi group.

Pali – It is the variant of Ardhamagadhi Prakrit.
It was the language of Theravada Buddhist canon.
- Linguistic group - Middle Indo-Aryan languages
After Theravada Buddhism declined in India, Pali survived as a religious language in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia, where this Buddhist school continued to prosper.
Marathi – It belongs to the Indo-Aryan family are derived from early forms of Prakrit.
- Official language- In Maharashtra and UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

While Konkani is the official language of Goa, it allows Marathi to be used for official purpose sometimes.

Assamese – It belongs to Indo-Aryan family.
- Official language - Assam
Bengali – It belongs to India – European language family
- Official language - West Bengal, Tripura, Assam (Barak Valley), Jharkhand (additional official language) and Bangladesh.

Ministry of Education has taken various steps for advancing Classical Languages.
Establishing universities – In 2020, three Central Universities were established through an Act of Parliament to promote Sanskrit.
The Central Institute of Classical Tamil was created to facilitate translating ancient Tamil texts, promoting research, and offering courses for university students and language scholars.
Establishing Centres for Excellence – It was established for studies in Classical Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia under the auspices of the Central Institute of Indian Languages in Mysuru.
It also takes steps in establishing Centers for promoting Classical Languages.
Recognition through awards – Several national and international awards have been introduced to recognize and encourage achievements in the field of Classical Languages.
Chairs in Universities - As UGC recommended, professional chairs in central universities were established.

Revives intellectual and cultural identity - It encourage scholarly research, preservation, and the revitalization of ancient texts and knowledge systems.
Promotes national integration - It instills a sense of pride and ownership among the speakers of these languages.

Self-reliance – It aligns with the broader vision of a self-reliant and culturally rooted India.
It will elevate their stature and will ensure their continued relevance in the modern world.
Employment generation – It will create significant employment opportunities, particularly in academic and research fields.
Additionally, the preservation, documentation, and digitization of ancient texts of these languages will generate jobs in archiving, translation, publishing, and digital media.

Government shall continue providing technical and financial support for the development and preservation of language.
Promote academic and cultural initiatives to increase public awareness and motivate more scholars to contribute language development.
Research and document literary provision and transform to next generation.