Modi cabinet approves Marathi, Bengali and three other as classical languages

As a step to pay tributes to India’s language legacy, Union Cabinet has sanctioned Thursday classical language status to five new languages—Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali. From six to eleven, the number of officially recognized classical languages in the country has now gone up.

What does the new status mean?

Until now, only Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia enjoyed the prestigious title. The inclusion of five more seeks to extend further efforts in preserving and valuing India’s linguistic heritage worldwide.

The union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw termed this decision as “historic,” stating, “This move will help preserve India’s rich cultural heritage.” He said the new criteria for a classical language status would now be applied when a similar proposal comes up again in the future, focusing on sound research and historical evidence.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also celebrated the decision, calling it a tribute to India’s vibrant linguistic landscape. “Each of these languages is beautiful and highlights our nation’s rich diversity. I am extremely glad that Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali will now be honored as classical languages,” he shared on social media platform X.

Criteria for classical language status

The concept of classical languages was first established by the Union government in the year 2004, and Tamil was the first language to be given this status. The criteria for such a status are as follows:

1. High antiquity, which means that early texts or recorded history should be over 1500 to 2000 years old.
2. A body of ancient literature viewed as a cultural treasure by generations of speakers.
3. The presence of the unique original literary traditions distinct from other speech communities.

A Language Expert Committee (LEC) formed under the Sahitya Akademi revisited and updated these criteria in a July 2024 meeting, confirming that Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali met the revised benchmarks.

The demand for recognition of these languages has been growing for years. Maharashtra, in particular, has been pushing for Marathi’s classical language status since 2013. Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had constituted a committee of language experts in 2014, which concluded that Marathi fulfills all criteria. The Centre has had the report since then, and its clearance comes just weeks before the Maharashtra Assembly elections are set to be announced.

Calling Marathi “India’s pride,” Prime Minister Modi added, “This honor acknowledges the rich cultural contribution of Marathi in our nation’s history. I am sure with the status of a Classical Language, many more people will be motivated to learn it.”

However, while welcoming the development, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh reacted sharply to the timing, suggesting it was politically motivated. “The non-biological PM’s government has finally granted classical language status to Marathi, but the timing is suspiciously close to upcoming state elections,” Ramesh said in a pointed post on X.

What happens next for these classical languages?

Languages that receive classical status benefit from several government initiatives. According to Vaishnaw, the Education Ministry will now promote such languages with programs aimed at preserving heritage. This includes two annual international awards to distinguished scholars, the setting up of Centers of Excellence, and the creation of academic chairs for classical language studies at Central Universities.

The promotion of these languages, he said, aligns with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s commitment to celebrating India’s cultural diversity. “Now, with the addition of five more classical languages, they too will receive the same support as the existing ones,” Vaishnaw affirmed.

State leaders also welcomed the move. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma thanked Prime Minister Modi, while Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde appreciated the non-stop efforts of the state government in bringing Marathi on the lines of its long pending recognition. “This battle has been successful,” Shinde said, thanking the Prime Minister and key ministers.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee hailed the recognition of Bengali language, saying that extensive research had been submitted to stake a claim for the language. “We finally reach the cultural apex in the body of languages in India,” she remarked.

Why Pali and Prakrit?

The inclusion of Pali and Prakrit as classical languages shines a spotlight on their historical significance. The inclusion of Pali and Prakrit as classical languages shines a spotlight on their historical significance. Pali, an ancient language known for preserving Buddhist teachings in the Pali Canon, plays a crucial role in understanding early Indian spirituality. Prakrit, meanwhile, is a group of ancient languages that served as the vernacular counterpart to Sanskrit and was widely used in early Indian literature, especially in plays and poetry.

The expansion of the number of officially recognized classical languages to five has enriched India’s linguistic landscape. The upgrade of such languages by the government will further spur further academic research and culture programs aimed at preserving the different heritage represented for future generations.

As Vaishnaw put it, “This important decision will boost efforts to promote our linguistic heritage and create new opportunities in academics, literature, and culture.”

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