Classical languages of India-242784

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The Indian classical languages are the languages of India perceived as having high antiquity, and valuable, original and distinct literary heritage.[1] The Government of India declared in 2004 that languages that met certain strict criteria could be accorded the status of a classical language of India.[2] It was instituted by the Ministry of Culture along with the Linguistic Experts' Committee. The committee was constituted by the Government of India to consider demands for the categorisation of languages as classical languages. In 2004, Tamil became the first language to be recognised as a classical language of India. As of 2024, 11 languages have been recognised as classical languages of India.

Criteria

In the year 2004, the tentative criteria for the age of antiquity of "classical language" was assumed to be at least 1000 years of existence.[2]

The Central Government has revised the criteria 3 times.

Criteria in 2004

The following criteria were set during the time Tamil was given the classical language status by the government of India:[3] Template:Blockquote

Criteria in 2005

The following criteria were set during the time Sanskrit was given the classical language status by the government of India

Template:Blockquote

After classical language status was granted to Tamil in 2004, there were similar demands for other languages.[4] Subsequently Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013) and Odia (2014) were given the status.[3]

Criteria in 2024

The following criteria were set by the Ministry of Culture:[3] Template:Blockquote

Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit were given the classical language status in October 2024.[3][5]

Upon dropping the criteria for "original literary tradition", the Linguistic Expert Committee justified their decision by stating the following:[5] Template:Blockquote

Benefits

Academic opportunities

As per Government of India's Resolution No. 2-16/2004-US (Akademies) dated 1 November 2004, the benefits that will accrue to a language declared as a "Classical Language" are:[6]

  1. Two major international awards for scholars of eminence in Classical Indian Languages are awarded annually.
  2. A Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Languages is set up.
  3. The University Grants Commission will be requested to create, to start with at least in the Central Universities, a certain number of Professional Chairs for Classical Languages for scholars of eminence in Classical Indian Languages.[6]

Job employment opportunities

The recognition of these classical languages will give job employment opportunities, especially in academic and research areas. Moreover, the preservation, documentation, and digitisation of ancient texts of these languages will provide employment opportunities to people in archiving, translation, publishing, and digital media.[3]

Officially recognised classical languages

Language Earliest attestation Language family Language branch Living or Dead Date recognised
Template:Langx ~300 BCE [7][8][9][10][11] Dravidian South Dravidian Living 12 October 2004[12]
Template:Langx ~100 BCE Template:Efn[13][14] Indo-European Indo-Aryan Living[15][16] 25 November 2005[12]
Template:Langx 450 CE[17] Dravidian South Dravidian Living[18] 31 October 2008[19]
Template:Langx 575 CE[20][21] South-Central Dravidian
Template:Langx 849 CE[22][23] South Dravidian 23 May 2013[24]
Template:Langx Between 600 and 700 CE (earliest work in Apabhramsa in 8th century)[25][26][27][28][29] Indo-European Eastern Indo-Aryan 20 February 2014[6]
অসমীয়া, Assamese Between 600 and 700 CE (earliest work in Apabhramsa in 8th century)[30][31][32][27] Eastern Indo-Aryan 3 October 2024[3]
বাংলা, Bengali Between 600 and 700 CE (earliest work in Apabhramsa in 8th century)[33][34][26][27]
मराठी/𑘦𑘨𑘰𑘙𑘲, Marathi Between 500 and 700 CE (old Marathi)[35][36][37][38] Southern Indo-Aryan
𑀧𑀸𑀮𑀺/ 𐨤𐨫𐨁/ បាលី/ ပါဠိ/ପାଲି/บาลี/ පාලි/ পালি/ पालि, Pali  Between ~300 and 100 BCE[39] Middle Indo-Aryan Dead[18]
𑀧𑀸𑀉𑀤/ पाइअ, Prakrit Between 500 and 100 BCE[40]

Demand from other languages

Template:Hatnote

Meitei

Template:Further Meitei, or Manipuri, is a language of Sino-Tibetan linguistic family, having a long literary tradition.[41][42]

Maithili

Template:Further Maithili is an Eastern Indo-Aryan language with a literary tradition that traces its roots back to the 7th and 8th centuries. The earliest known example of Maithili can be found in the Mandar Hill Sen inscription from the 7th century, which provides evidence of its ancient lineage.[43] Additionally, the Charyapada, a collection of Buddhist mystical songs from the 8th century, also reflects the early development of Maithili.[44] The language is predominantly spoken in the Mithila region, encompassing parts of present-day Bihar, Jharkhand and Nepal. Maithili's rich literary heritage includes epic poetry, philosophical texts, and devotional songs, such as the works of the 14th-century poet Vidyapati. Though it has a distinct script, Tirhuta, Devanagari is commonly used today. Despite its profound historical and cultural significance, Maithili has yet to be recognised as a "classical language" by the Government of India, leading to ongoing demands for such recognition.[45][46]

Politics

Besides the literary achievements, the status of classical language is granted, sometimes influenced by the political parties of the states or union territories of the respective languages where these are spoken or are based in, or the national parties, advocating for the certain languages to be accorded the demanded status.[47]

Languages declared as "classical" Political parties (involved in advocacy) State/UT/National level parties Notes/Ref.
Tamil Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and UPA Government Tamil Nadu and national [47][48]
Telugu Telugu Desam Party and
UPA Government 		United Andhra and National [47]
Kannada Bharatiya Janata Party and UPA Government Karnataka and national [47]
Odia UPA Government and Biju Janata Dal National and Odisha [47]
Bengali Trinamool Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party West Bengal and national [49]
Bengali Amra Bangali Tripura [50]
Marathi Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Shiv Sena Maharashtra [51][52]
Marathi Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress National [51][53][54]

Court cases against classical status

A lawyer from the Madras High Court legally challenged against the official classical status of Malayalam and Odia, in 2015.[55] There was a long legal proceeding for almost one year. Later, the Madras High Court disposed the case against the mentioned languages' status of being officially "classical" in 2016.[56][57][58]

See also

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

  1. ↑ Reviving classical languages – Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis. Dnaindia.com(13 August 2015). Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 India sets up classical languages(17 September 2004). Retrieved 1 May 2007.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Cabinet approves conferring status of Classical Language to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali languages. Press Information Bureau.
  4. ↑ Clamour grows for Marathi to be given classical language status. The Times of India(16 April 2018). Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Five languages got classical status after 'original literary tradition' norm was dropped. The Hindu(6 October 2024). Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Classical Status to Odiya Language. Press Information Bureau, Government of India(14 August 2013). Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  7. ↑ Template:Usurped
  8. ↑ Chera, Chola, Pandya: Using Archaeological Evidence to Identify the Tamil Kingdoms of Early Historic South India.
  9. ↑ Template:Harvnb: "...the most acceptable periodisation which has so far been suggested for the development of Tamil writing seems to me to be that of A Chidambaranatha Chettiar (1907–1967): 1. Sangam Literature – 200BC to AD 200; 2. Post Sangam literature – AD 200 – AD 600; 3. Early Medieval literature – AD 600 to AD 1200; 4. Later Medieval literature – AD 1200 to AD 1800; 5. Pre-Modern literature – AD 1800 to 1900"
  10. ↑ [{{{url}}} The Beginnings of Civilization in South India]. at p. 610
  11. ↑ Palani excavation triggers fresh debate(29 August 2011).
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Notification(25 November 2005). Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  13. ↑ The Indo-Aryan Languages{{#if:Jain|, Jain}. Routledge(2007). ISBN 978-1-135-79711-9
  14. ↑ The Indo-Aryan Languages{{#if:Salomon|, Salomon}. Routledge(2007). ISBN 978-1-135-79711-9
  15. ↑ Sanskrit has never been dead, Graphics, Online. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  16. ↑ Living Status of Sanskrit Language, Graphics, Online. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  17. ↑ Kannada language | History, Script & Dialects | Britannica. www.britannica.com(10 October 2023). Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 5 new Indian classical languages, 3 living and 2 dead, PTI. National Herald(4 October 2024). Retrieved 7 October 2024.
  19. ↑ Declaration of Telugu and Kannada as classical languages. Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Government of India. Retrieved 31 October 2008.
  20. ↑ The Hindu News: Telugu is 2,400 years old, says ASI Template:Webarchive "The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has joined the Andhra Pradesh Official Languages Commission to say that early forms of the Telugu language and its script indeed existed 2,400 years ago"
  21. ↑ Telugu language | Origin, History, & Facts | Britannica. www.britannica.com(1 November 2023). Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  22. ↑ The 'Early Medieval' Origins of India{{#if:Devadevan|, Devadevan}. Cambridge University Press(2020). ISBN 978-1-108-49457-1
  23. ↑ Malayalam language | Dravidian, India, Scripts | Britannica. www.britannica.com. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  24. ↑ Classifying Malaylam as 'Classical Language'. PIB(23 May 2013). Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  25. ↑ Odia language | Region, History, & Basics | Britannica. www.britannica.com(13 October 2023). Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Bengali literature | History, Rabindranath Tagore, Poetry, Novels, & Facts | Britannica. www.britannica.com(26 November 2024). Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 The Indo-Aryan Languages{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Routledge(26 July 2007). ISBN 978-1-135-79710-2
  28. ↑ Inscriptions of Orissa: C. 600-1100 A.D.{{#if:Rajaguru|, Rajaguru}. Gouri Kumar Brahma, M.A., D. Ed.(1966)
  29. ↑ Constitutional languages{{#if:Mahapatra|, Mahapatra}. Presses Université Laval(1989). ISBN 978-2-7637-7186-1
  30. ↑ Medieval Indian Literature: Surveys and selections{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Sahitya Akademi(9 February 2025). ISBN 978-81-260-0365-5
  31. ↑ Assamese language | Assamese Dialects, Brahmaputra Valley & Eastern India | Britannica. www.britannica.com(31 August 2024). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  32. ↑ Charyapads as the Oldest Written Specimen of Assamese Literature. International Journal of Health Sciences({Template:Date).
  33. ↑ Bengali language | History, Writing System & Dialects | Britannica. www.britannica.com(31 August 2024). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  34. ↑ Behind Bengali's classical language tag, a Kolkata institute's 2,000-page research document. The Indian Express(8 October 2024). Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  35. ↑ Classical Language status granted to Marathi. pib.gov.in(4 October 2024). Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  36. ↑ Marathi literature. www.britannica.com(31 August 2024). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  37. ↑ 'Kuvalayamālā: Prākr̥tabhāṣānibaddhā campūsvarūpā mahākathā, Part 2'(1959).
  38. ↑ Marathi History. lisindia.ciil.org. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  39. ↑ Pāli language | Theravada Buddhism, Pali Canon, India | Britannica. www.britannica.com(29 August 2024). Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  40. ↑ Prakrit. www.ames.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  41. ↑ 'Manipur language which belongs to Tibeto-Burma has touched the criteria of a classical language'(21 February 2018).
  42. ↑ Manipuri is a classical language.
  43. ↑ Choudhary, R. (1976). A survey of Maithili literature. Ram Vilas Sahu.
  44. ↑ Early history of Kamarupa{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Published by the Author(1933)
  45. ↑ बिहार की एक भी भाषा अब तक नहीं बनी शास्त्रीय भाषा, मैथिली हो सकता शामिल. Jagran(9 July 2021).
  46. ↑ मैथिली को शास्त्रीय भाषा के लिए नियमसंगत कार्रवाई होगी. Hindustan(26 July 2024). Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 47.3 47.4 Marathi and the Politics of 'Classical' Languages, Chavan, Akshay. PeepulTree(27 February 2022). Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  48. ↑ Handbook of Language and Ethnic Identity: The Success-Failure Continuum in Language and Ethnic Identity Efforts (Volume 2){{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Oxford University Press(21 April 2011). ISBN 978-0-19-983799-1
  49. ↑ TMC, BJP spar over credit for Bengali getting 'classical language' recognition. The Indian Express(4 October 2024). Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  50. ↑ Tripura's Amra Bangali Party Pushes for Bengali Language Inclusion in Indian Constitution, Today, North East. Northeast Today(5 October 2024). Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 Ahead of poll, credit war breaks out in Maharashtra over classical language status to Marathi. The Hindu(4 October 2024). Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  52. ↑ Classical language status to Marathi a result of collective efforts, not single party: Sanjay Raut, PTI. Deccan Herald. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  53. ↑ Will Give Classical Language Status To Marathi After Forming INDIA Govt, Announces Congress - www.lokmattimes.com. Lokmat Times(13 May 2024). Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  54. ↑ Classical language status to Marathi a result of collective efforts, not single party: Sanjay Raut, PTI. Deccan Herald. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  55. ↑ PIL in Madras HC opposes classical language status for Malayalam, Odia. The Times of India(4 March 2015). Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  56. ↑ Madras HC disposes of pleas challenging classical status to Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam. The Hindu(9 August 2016). Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  57. ↑ Madras High Court bats for classical languages. India Legal(7 September 2016). Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  58. ↑ Madras High Court disposes plea against classical status to non-Tamil languages. The Indian Express(8 August 2016). Retrieved 16 October 2024.

Sources

  • [{{{url}}} Companion studies to the history of Tamil literature]. Brill.

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