Classical Languages

• Context (TH): Classical language status to Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Pali & Prakrit.

• Earlier, India had 6 classical languages — Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Sanskrit, and Odia.
• Tamil was the first language to be given classical status in 2004, followed by Sanskrit in 2005.
• The criteria for bestowing classical status were revised by the Linguistics Experts Committee, chaired by the Sahitya Academy.
• The Linguistics Expert Committee comprises representatives of the Union Ministries of Home, Culture and four or five linguistic experts at any given time.

What is a Classical Language?

• Classical languages are ancient languages with independent traditions and a rich literary history that continue to influence various literary styles and philosophical texts.

List of Classical Languages

1. Tamil (2004)
2. Sanskrit (2005)
3. Kannada (2008)
4. Telugu (2008)
5. Malayalam (2013)
6. Odia (2014)
7. Marathi (2024)
8. Bengali (2024)
9. Assamese (2024)
10. Pali (2024)
11. Prakrit (2024)

Criteria for declaring a language as ‘Classical’

• The recognition of a classical language is based on criteria established by a Linguistic Experts Committee. They are:
  1. High antiquity of (its) is early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500- 2000 years.
  2. A body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a heritage by generations of speakers.
  3. Knowledge texts, especially prose texts in addition to poetry, epigraphical and inscriptional evidence.
  4. The Classical Languages and literature could be distinct from its current form or could be discontinuous with later forms of its offshoots.

Benefits of being a Classical Language

• The Ministry of Education provides specific benefits to promote the classical languages:
  1. Two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in classical Indian languages.
  2. Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Languages.
  3. The University Grants Commission is requested to create several professional chairs for classical languages in the Central Universities.