Government grants ‘Classical Language’ status to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, Bengali; we delve into the significance and implications of this recognition

He added, “Each of them are beauteous languages, highlighting our vibrant diversity. Congratulations to everyone.”

Our Government cherishes and celebrates India’s affluent past and culture. We person besides been unwavering successful our committedness to popularising determination languages.

I americium highly gladsome the Cabinet has decided that Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit volition beryllium conferred the…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 3, 2024

This important move, which brings the full number to 11, highlights the taste and humanities value of these languages, portion besides emphasising the Indian government’s efforts to sphere and beforehand determination linguistic heritage.

Regional languages person played a humanities relation successful advancing the nation’s march to progress, and Modi Ji has been moving towards strengthening them further.

Blessed with glorious histories and affluent heritages, Marathi, Bengali, Pali, Prakrit, and Assamese languages have…

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) October 3, 2024

But what does it mean for a connection to beryllium designated arsenic a ‘Classical Language’? To recognize the implications and criteria down this classification, we delve into what makes a connection ‘classical’ and wherefore this designation matters for linguistic and taste identity.

Key criteria for a connection to beryllium considered a ‘Classical Language’

Srivatsa T J, a linguistic adept from Bengaluru, tells indianexpress.com, “To execute Classical Language status, a connection indispensable conscionable a circumstantial acceptable of criteria arsenic outlined by authorities bodies similar the Ministry of Culture successful India.” 

These criteria mostly include:

Antiquity: The connection should person a agelong history, with its aboriginal texts oregon literate traditions dating backmost astatine slightest 1,500 to 2,000 years.

Rich literate tradition: The connection indispensable person an extended assemblage of literature highly regarded for its cultural, scholarly, oregon humanities significance. This lit should not lone beryllium aged but indispensable besides basal the trial of clip successful presumption of relevance and influence.

Independent tradition: The connection should beryllium distinctive and not simply a derivative of different classical language. It indispensable person its literate traditions that are autarkic of outer influences.

Cultural impact: The connection indispensable person contributed importantly to processing the country’s culture, intelligence traditions, and history.

ASSAMESE IS NOW A CLASSICAL LANGUAGE

On behalf of the radical of Assam, I widen my gratitude to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji and the full Union Cabinet for the historical determination to accord Assamese the presumption of Classical Language. Assamese joins a prime group… pic.twitter.com/bIsMRfU0NB

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) October 3, 2024

Impact connected the preservation and promotion of languages done this status

Srivatsa says, “Receiving Classical Language presumption greatly impacts the preservation and promotion of the language, some academically and culturally. This designation often leads to accrued authorities backing and organization enactment for research, translation, and documentation of the language. Universities and probe institutions are encouraged to acceptable up specialised programs to survey and sphere the literate traditions of the language.”

From a taste standpoint, she adds that the presumption “elevates the value of the connection successful the nationalist consciousness, starring to accrued efforts to support oral traditions and folklore associated with the language.” 

Most blessed to stock that Bengali/ Bangla has been yet accorded the presumption of a classical connection by Government of India.

We had been trying to snatch this designation from Ministry of Culture, GOI and we had submitted 3 volumes of probe findings successful favour of our…

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) October 3, 2024

Does achieving classical presumption assistance a connection accommodate to modern-day challenges?

Srivatsa notes that achieving Classical Language presumption tin assistance a connection successful addressing modern challenges similar digitalisation and globalisation, but its effectiveness depends connected however this designation is utilised.

While the presumption often attracts authorities backing and taste initiatives that enactment integer archives, language-learning tools, and online dictionaries, she emphasises that classical presumption unsocial does not guarantee adaptation. Active efforts are indispensable to digitise past texts, make modern terminologies, and thatch these languages for their humanities value and relevance successful today’s globalised world.