Classical language status conferred to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali

The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has officially conferred classical language status to five languages: Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali, in a move aimed at preserving and promoting India’s linguistic heritage.

Historical context and criteria for classical languages

The Government of India established the "Classical Languages" category on October 12, 2004, with Tamil being the first language to receive this recognition. To qualify for this status, languages must meet specific criteria, including:

-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.

These criteria were revised in November 2005, when Sanskrit was declared a classical language, adding requirements that include a distinct literary tradition and evidence of a historical disconnect from modern forms.

- 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 literary tradition be original and not borrowed from another speech community.

- 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.

Developments leading to the decision

The journey towards this recent announcement began with a proposal from the Maharashtra Government in 2013, requesting classical language status for Marathi. Following the recommendation of the Linguistic Experts Committee (LEC), additional proposals from Bihar, Assam, and West Bengal were also considered for Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali.

In a meeting held on July 25, 2024, the LEC unanimously revised the criteria for classical languages, appointing Sahitya Akademi as the nodal agency for the process. The new criteria include:

- High antiquity of (its) is early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500- 2000 years.

- A body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a heritage by generations of speakers.

-Knowledge texts, especially prose texts in addition to poetry, epigraphical and inscriptional evidence.

-The classical languages and literature could be distinct from its current form or could be discontinuous with later forms of its offshoots.

Assam, Maharashtra, and West Bengal chief ministers have expressed their delight over their respective mother tongues being conferred the classical language status by the Cabinet on October 3.

Congress criticizes PM Modi for delay in granting Classical Language status to Marathi

The Congress party has raised concerns over the delay in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to grant classical language status to Marathi, suggesting that the move comes just weeks before the impending Maharashtra Assembly elections, where the BJP-led NDA government may face significant challenges.

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh expressed his frustration through a series of posts on social media, emphasizing that he had repeatedly urged the Prime Minister to expedite the proposal, which had been pending with the government for years. He stated that the decision to confer classical status to Marathi has only been made recently, likely in response to the looming electoral defeat in Maharashtra.

"The non-biological PM's government has finally accorded classical language status to Marathi. Aap chronology samajhiye (understand the chronology): On May 5, 2024, we reminded the non-biological PM of the Pathare Committee Report submitted to the Union Government by then Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan in July 2014.

He continued to outline a timeline of events, highlighting the Congress party’s persistent efforts to bring attention to the issue.

"On May 12, 2024, we highlighted the non-biological PM's Government's long silence on this demand, despite efforts made by Rajani Patil and other Maharashtra leaders in Parliament and outside. On May 13, 2024, we publicly pledged to accord classical language status to Marathi as part of the INDIA bloc's campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections," he said in a post on X.

Ramesh also pointed out that on July 9, 2024, the Congress raised concerns over the government’s revision of the criteria for granting classical language status, questioning its impact on the Marathi language's demand for recognition. He further noted that on September 26, 2024, the day the Prime Minister was scheduled to visit Pune, the Congress reiterated its call for action on this long-standing request.

Ramesh said that On July 9, 2024, "we flagged the Union Government's suspicious attempt to revisit the criteria for according classical language status, and its possible impact on the demand for such status to Marathi." "On September 26, 2024, the day the non-biological PM was scheduled to visit Pune, we further reminded him of this long-pending demand.

"On October 3, 2024, a few weeks before an imminent defeat in the upcoming Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha Elections, the non-biological PM finally awakens from his long slumber. 'Itni deri kyon' (Why so late) non-biological Pradhan Mantriji?" he asked in the social media post.