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The Indian classical languages, or the Shastriya Bhasha or the Semmozhi, is an umbrella term for the languages of India having high antiquity, and valuable, original and distinct literary heritage.[1] The Republic of India officially recognises six languages as the Classical languages of India. In 2004, the Government of India declared 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.

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.[3]

In a 2006 press release, Minister of Tourism and Culture Ambika Soni told the Rajya Sabha the following criteria were laid down to determine the eligibility of languages to be considered for classification as a "Classical Language",[4][1]

  1. High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500–2000 years.
  2. A body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers
  3. The literary tradition be original and not borrowed from another speech community.
  4. 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.

Benefits

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:[5]

  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]

Officially recognised classical languages

Language Earliest attestation Date recognised
தமிழ், Tamil 450 BCE[7] 12 October 2004[8]
संस्कृतम्, Sanskrit Not attested in writing until the 1st century BCE.[9] 25 November 2005[8]
ಕನ್ನಡ, Kannada 370 CE[10][11] 31 October 2008[12]
తెలుగు, Telugu 575 CE[13] 31 October 2008[12]
മലയാളം, Malayalam 830 CE[14] 23 May 2013[15]
ଓଡ଼ିଆ, Odia 10th-11th century CE[16] 20 February 2014[17]

Demand from other languages

This section is about the languages which are described as "classical" by scholars but still not officially recognised as "classical" by the Government of India. These languages may either have administrative "official language" or "scheduled language" statuses, but these should not be confused with the official "classical language" status.

Demands have been made for other languages to be officially accorded Classical status, including Pali,[18] Bengali,[19][20] Marathi,[21][22] Maithili[23] and Manipuri.[24][25][26]

Pali

Further information: Pali Canon

Pali language is a classical language which is liturgical to the Theravada Buddhism. Originated from the Northern India, it is closely related to the Old Indo-Aryan, Vedic Sanskrit but is not considered to be an offshoot or a direct descendent of Sanskrit. Historically, Pali came to widespread usage because Buddha taught that the vernacular should be used for writings of Buddhism. Pali writings existed as early as 1st century BCE, and oral transmission is considered to be in existence since 3rd century BCE.[27]

Meitei

Further information: Ancient Meitei literature and Meitei classical language movement

Meitei, or Manipuri, is a classical language of Sino-Tibetan linguistic family, having a literary tradition of not less than 2000 years.[28][29]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Reviving classical languages – Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". Dnaindia.com. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  2. ^ "India sets up classical languages". BBC. 17 September 2004. Retrieved 1 May 2007.
  3. ^ "India sets up classical languages". BBC. 2004-09-17.
  4. ^ "CLASSICAL LANGUAGE STATUS TO KANNADA". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 8 August 2006. Archived from the original on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2008.
  5. ^ "Classical Status to Odiya Language". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 14 August 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Classical Status to Oriya Language". Pib.nic.in (Press release). 14 August 2013. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014.
  7. ^ "Tamil language | Origin, History, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2023-11-03. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  8. ^ a b "Notification" (PDF). 25 November 2005. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  9. ^ Jain, Dhanesh (2007). "Sociolinguistics of the Indo-Aryan languages". In George Cardona; Dhanesh Jain (eds.). The Indo-Aryan Languages. Routledge. pp. 47–66, 51. ISBN 978-1-135-79711-9.
  10. ^ "Kannada language | History, Script & Dialects | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2023-10-10. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  11. ^ "Kannada inscription at Talagunda may replace Halmidi as oldest".
  12. ^ a b "Declaration of Telugu and Kannada as classical languages". Press Information Bureau. Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Government of India. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2008.
  13. ^ "Telugu language | Origin, History, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  14. ^ "Malayalam language | Dravidian, India, Scripts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  15. ^ "Classifying Malaylam as 'Classical Language'". PIB. 23 May 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  16. ^ "Odia language | Region, History, & Basics | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2023-10-13. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  17. ^ "Classifying Odia as classical Language". PIB. 20 February 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  18. ^ Singh, Binay (5 May 2013). "Removal of Pali as UPSC subject draws criticism". The Times of India. Retrieved 20 February 2014.
  19. ^ "Didi, Naveen face-off over classical language status". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2020-02-12.
  20. ^ "Bangla O Bangla Bhasha Banchao Committee". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2020-02-12.
  21. ^ Clara Lewis (16 April 2018). "Clamour grows for Marathi to be given classical language status". The Times of India.
  22. ^ "Marathi may become classical language". The Indian Express. 4 July 2013.
  23. ^ Jagran Team (9 July 2021). "बिहार की एक भी भाषा अब तक नहीं बनी शास्त्रीय भाषा, मैथिली हो सकता शामिल". Jagran.
  24. ^ "Manipur steps up to renew push for inclusion of Manipuri among India's classical languages (time duration of the movement)". Imphal Free Press. The movement for recognizing Manipuri as a classical language began in 2013, yet there has been a gap in the follow up actions.
  25. ^ "MP for classical language status : 23rd sep20 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net.
  26. ^ "Process for recognising Manipuri as classical language of India underway: MP Sanajaoba". Imphal Free Press.
  27. ^ "Pāli language | Theravada Buddhism, Pali Canon, India | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2023-10-25. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  28. ^ "'Manipur language which belongs to Tibeto-Burma has touched the criteria of a classical language'". 2018-02-21.
  29. ^ "Manipuri is a classical language".
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