Marathi among 5 new classical languages ​​approved by Narendra Modi cabinet | Latest news India

The Cabinet also updated the eligibility criteria for classical languages ​​under the center's linguistic expert committee.

This cabinet decision increases the number of recognized classical languages ​​from six to eleven. Previously recognized languages ​​included Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Odia, which was the last language to enter the club in 2014.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said the historic decision was aimed at preserving India's rich cultural heritage.

So far, the classical languages ​​notified included Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Odia. These languages ​​were already recognized as classical languages. The new proposals were considered within this framework and all future proposals will also be assessed in the same way, based on appropriate scientific evidence, research and historical data, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the decision.

Our government cherishes and celebrates India's rich history and culture. We have also been steadfast in our commitment to the popularization of regional languages. I am extremely happy that the Cabinet has decided that Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit will be conferred the status of classical languages! Each of these are beautiful languages, showcasing our dynamic diversity. Congratulations everyone, he posted on X.

The Union Government created the category of classical languages ​​on October 12, 2004, initially declaring Tamil as a classical language based on three criteria: high antiquity of early texts with a recorded history spanning a thousand years, a body of literature ancient considered as a precious heritage. by generations of speakers, and an original literary tradition which is not borrowed from another speech community.

In November 2004, the Ministry of Culture formed a Linguistic Expert Committee (LEC) under the Sahitya Akademi to examine languages ​​for this status. The criteria were revised in November 2005, resulting in the declaration of Sanskrit as a classical language, with updated standards that included the high antiquity of its earliest texts/recorded history over a period of 1,500 to 2,000 years and the emphasis on the fact that the literary tradition is original and not borrowed from another linguistic community.

At a meeting on July 25, 2024, the LEC unanimously revised the criteria for classical languages. The NEW? The (yes, new) criteria include the high antiquity of (its) earliest texts/history recorded over a period of 1,500 to 2,000 years, a body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered heritage by generations of speakers , the presence of knowledge texts. , particularly prose texts in addition to poetry, epigraphic and inscriptional evidence, and the stipulation that classical languages ​​and literature could be distinct from its present form or could be discontinuous with later forms of its offshoots.

The committee confirmed that Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali meet the revised criteria for classical language status.

The call to grant classical language status to some of these languages ​​dates back a decade. In 2013, the Maharashtra government submitted a proposal for recognition of Marathis. Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan then set up a committee of language experts in 2014 to assess the language. The panel confirmed that Marathi met all the criteria for recognition as a classical language and its report reached the Centre.

This development came just days before the assembly elections were announced in Maharashtra.

Terming the pride of Marathi Indias, Modi said, “This honor recognizes the rich cultural contribution of Marathi in the history of our nation. Marathi has always been a cornerstone of Indian heritage. I am sure that with the classical language status, many more people will be motivated to learn it.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said he had repeatedly reminded the prime minister to clear the proposal pending with the government, saying it was finally done just weeks before a looming defeat in the polls. the Maharashtra Assembly.

The non-biological Prime Minister's government finally granted classical language status to Marathi. Aap samajhiye Timeline (Understand Timeline): On May 5, 2024, we reminded the non-biological Prime Minister about the Pathare Committee report submitted to the Union Government by the then Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan in July 2014 .

On May 12, 2024, we highlighted the long silence of non-biological Prime Ministers' governments on this demand, despite efforts by Rajani Patil and other Maharashtra leaders in Parliament and outside. On May 13, 2024, we publicly committed to granting classical language status to Marathi as part of the Indian bloc campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he said in an article on X.

Ramesh said that on July 9, 2024, we reported on the Union government's suspicious attempt to review the criteria for granting classical language status and its possible impact on the demand for such status for Marathi. On September 26, 2024, the day the non-biological Prime Minister was scheduled to visit Pune, we reminded him of this long-standing request.

On October 3, 2024, weeks before a looming defeat in the upcoming Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha elections, the non-biological Prime Minister finally wakes up from his long slumber. Itni deri kyon (Why so late) Pradhan Mantriji non-biological? he asked in the social media post

Once a language is declared a classical language, it attracts considerable international interest. Many international universities are beginning to offer courses and research programs in these classical languages, Vaishnaw said.

Notably, once a language is designated as a classical language, the Ministry of Education offers various benefits to promote it. This includes two annual international prizes for distinguished researchers in these languages, the creation of a center of excellence for classical language studies, and a request to the University Grants Commission to establish professional chairs for the classical languages ​​declared in central universities.

He spoke about the promotion of classical languages. Now, with the addition of five more classical languages, they too will receive promotion and support, and their heritage will be preserved in the same way as existing languages.

Vaishnaw said the decision was in line with Modi's philosophy and the National Democratic Alliance government's commitment to being proud of Indian culture, heritage and diversity of languages.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma welcomed the decision. On behalf of the people of Assam, I express my gratitude to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji and the entire Union Cabinet for the historic decision to grant Assamese the status of a classical language, he declared. on X.

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told X and said, “This important decision will further boost efforts to preserve, promote and popularize our linguistic heritage as well as create new opportunities in the academic field, research literature, language and culture. This will also encourage our current and future generations to connect with and be proud of our beautiful Indian languages.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, “Finally, Marathi language has achieved the status of a classical language. This battle was crowned with success. The Maharashtra government has continuously followed up with the Center on this. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, Union Home Minister Amit Shah ji and Union Cultural Affairs Minister Gajendrasingh Shekhavat ji. Several Marathi speakers, Marathi intellectuals, linguists, writers and critics contributed to it.

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

Other languages ​​include Pali, an ancient language primarily known for its role in preserving the teachings of Buddhism, particularly in the Pali canon. Prakrit, a group of ancient Indian languages, served as a vernacular equivalent to Sanskrit and was widely used in literature, particularly plays and poetry.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee also addressed X and said, “Very happy to share that Bengali/Bangla has finally been granted the status of a classical language by the Government of India. We had tried to wrest this recognition from the Ministry of Culture of the Government of India and had submitted three volumes of research findings in support of our claim. The Union Government today evening accepted our well-researched assertion and we finally reach the cultural pinnacle in the corpus of languages ​​in India.