07-October-2024-Editorial

CLASSICAL LANGUAGES OF INDIA

The Government of India has been recognizing certain languages as “Classical Languages” to preserve their ancient heritage and cultural significance. Recently, the Union Cabinet expanded the list by recognizing five more languages: Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali. These languages, along with previously recognized ones, represent India’s rich linguistic diversity and are integral to its cultural evolution.

About Classical Languages:

• The Indian government started recognizing Classical Languages in 2004 to protect and celebrate the historical and cultural legacy of these languages.
• Classical Languages (Shastriya Bhasha) are those with a rich literary heritage, deep historical roots, and unique cultural significance.
• Currently, India has 11 recognized classical languages, each with its historical importance and cultural contributions.

Significance:

• These languages are crucial to the intellectual and cultural development of their regions and have contributed to various fields such as literature, philosophy, religion, and art.
• The texts and literature associated with these languages offer a glimpse into the historical, social, and cultural contexts of ancient India.

Criteria for Recognition as Classical Language:

• High Antiquity: The language must have historical roots with texts or records dating back 1,500 to 2,000 years.
• Ancient Literature: A language should possess a significant body of ancient texts or literature valued by subsequent generations.
• Knowledge Texts: The language must have developed an original literary tradition, without borrowing from other communities.
• Distinct Evolution: The language should have evolved distinctly from its modern forms, and there can be discontinuity between the classical language and its later versions or dialects.

Benefits of Classical Language Status:

• Languages recognized as classical receive various forms of government support for their study, research, and preservation.
• Two international awards are given annually to scholars contributing significantly to the promotion or research of these languages: the Presidential Award of Certificate of Honour and the Maharshi Badrayan Samman Award.
• The University Grants Commission (UGC) promotes research in classical languages by creating Professional Chairs at central universities and research institutions.
• The Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) in Mysore established the Center of Excellence for Studies in Classical Languages to protect and promote classical Indian languages.

Provisions to Promote Indian Languages:

• Eighth Schedule: The Constitution of India includes 22 scheduled languages in the Eighth Schedule, which promotes their progressive use, enrichment, and preservation. These languages include Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili, and Dogri.
• Article 344(1): This provision mandates the creation of a Commission by the President of India every five years to promote the progressive use of Hindi.
• Article 351: It is the Union’s duty to promote the spread of Hindi as a medium of communication and to enrich it by assimilating elements from other Indian languages.

Other Efforts to Promote Languages:

• Project ASMITA: This initiative aims to produce 22,000 books in Indian languages over five years to promote literary heritage.
• New Education Policy (NEP): The NEP emphasizes the transformation of Sanskrit universities into multidisciplinary institutions.
• Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL): This institute is dedicated to promoting classical languages like Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia.
• Central Sanskrit Universities Bill, 2019: This law granted central university status to three key Sanskrit institutions: Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth in Delhi, and Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth in Tirupati.

Conclusion:

The recognition of classical languages not only preserves their ancient literary heritage but also fosters cultural pride among their speakers. Through various initiatives, India is ensuring that these linguistic treasures continue to thrive in the modern era.