Union Cabinet approves classical language status for Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Pali, and Prakrit

The Union Cabinet on Thursday (October 3, 2024) approved classical language status to Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Pali, and Prakrit.

The demand for classical status for Marathi has been pending since 2013 and the approval comes just ahead of the scheduled Assembly elections in Maharashtra. The approval for Bengali comes amid Durga Puja, the biggest festival of West Bengal.

India has had six classical languages till now. Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Sanskrit, and Odia. Tamil was the first language to be given classical status in 2004 followed by Sanskrit in 2005.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media platform X on Thursday to congratulate all speakers of the newly-designated classical languages.

“Marathi is India’s pride. Congratulations on this phenomenal language being accorded the status of a Classical Language. This honour acknowledges the rich cultural contribution of Marathi in our nation’s history. Marathi has always been a cornerstone of Indian heritage. I am sure with the status of a Classical Language, many more people will be motivated to learn it,” he posted on X.

Mr. Modi noted that Bengali had been conferred the status of a classical language during Durga Puja. “I am very happy that the great Bengali language has been conferred the status of a Classical Language, especially during the auspicious time of Durga Puja. Bengali literature has inspired countless people for years. I congratulate all the Bengali speakers all over the world on this”.

According to the Union Culture Ministry, the criteria for bestowing classical status was revised by the Linguistics Experts Committee, chaired by the Sahitya Akademi, in a meeting in July this year and the decision to designate the five languages as classical was taken thereafter.

The Hindu had reported on July 8 that the Central government was all set to tweak the criteria.

The Linguistics Expert Committee comprises of representatives of the Union Ministries of Home, Culture, and four or five linguistic experts at any given time. It is chaired by the President of the Sahitya Akademi.

Once a language is notified as a classical language, the Education Ministry provides certain benefits to promote it which includes two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in the said languages, a Centre of Excellence for studies in classical languages is set up and the University Grants Commission is requested to create, to start with at least in the Central Universities, a certain number of professional chairs for the classical languages so declared.

“The inclusion of languages as Classical Language 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,” the Union Culture Ministry said in a statement.

Reacting on Marathi being given classical status, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde tweeted, “Finally, Marathi language has been given the status of classical language. This battle has been successful. Maharashtra government had continuously followed up with the Centre for this. I thank PM Narendra Modi ji, Union Home Minister Amit Shah ji, Union Cultural Affairs Minister Gajendrasinha Shekhavat ji. Several Marathi speaking people, Marathi intellectuals, linguists, writers, critics have helped in this. A heartfelt thank you!”

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “It is a golden moment and a historic day. This is a very proud moment! Eternally thankful to Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji.”

Published - October 03, 2024 09:23 pm IST