Classical languages of India explained

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] [5]

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:[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.[7]

Officially recognised classical languages

LanguageLanguage familyLanguage branchEarliest attestation Date recognised
Tamil: தமிழ்|[[Tamil language|Tamil]]|label=noneDravidianSouth Dravidian
Middle Tamil
Between 500 and 300 BCE[8] [9] 12 October 2004[10]
Sanskrit: संस्कृतम्|[[Sanskrit]]|label=noneIndo-EuropeanIndo-Aryan1st century BCE.[11] 25 November 2005
Kannada: ಕನ್ನಡ|[[Kannada]]|label=noneDravidianSouth Dravidian
Kannada dialects
370 CE[12] [13] 31 October 2008[14]
Telugu: తెలుగు|[[Telugu language|Telugu]]|label=noneDravidianSouth-Central Dravidian
Early Telugu
400 CE[15] [16] 31 October 2008
Burmese: മലയാളം|[[Malayalam]]|label=noneDravidianSouth Dravidian830 CE[17] 23 May 2013[18]
ଓଡ଼ିଆ|[[Odia language|Odia]]|label=noneIndo-EuropeanEastern Indo-Aryan10th-11th century CE[19] 20 February 2014[20]

Demand from other languages

Demands have been made for other languages to be officially accorded Classical status, including Pali,[21] Bengali,[22] [23] Marathi,[24] [25] Maithili[26] and Manipuri.[27] [28] [29]

Pali

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.[30]

Meitei

Meitei, or Manipuri, is a classical language of Sino-Tibetan linguistic family, having a literary tradition of not less than 2000 years.[31] [32]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Reviving classical languages – Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis. 13 August 2015. Dnaindia.com. 28 December 2017.
  2. News: India sets up classical languages . BBC . 1 May 2007 . 17 September 2004.
  3. News: 2004-09-17 . India sets up classical languages . en-GB . BBC.
  4. Web site: CLASSICAL LANGUAGE STATUS TO KANNADA. Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 8 August 2006. 6 November 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20120118162310/http://pib.nic.in/release/rel_print_page1.asp?relid=19653. 18 January 2012.
  5. Web site: Reviving classical languages – Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis. 13 August 2015. Dnaindia.com. 28 December 2017.
  6. Web site: Classical Status to Odiya Language. Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 14 August 2013. 18 January 2023.
  7. Classical Status to Oriya Language. 14 August 2013. Pib.nic.in. https://web.archive.org/web/20140112062502/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=98244. 12 January 2014.
  8. https://thepolyglotfiles.com/2018/07/17/is-tamil-the-oldest-language-in-the-world/
  9. Web site: 2023-11-03 . Tamil language Origin, History, & Facts Britannica . 2023-11-09 . www.britannica.com . en.
  10. Web site: Notification . 25 November 2005 . 21 January 2024 .
  11. Book: Jain, Dhanesh . George Cardona . Dhanesh Jain . The Indo-Aryan Languages. https://books.google.com/books?id=OtCPAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA51. 2007. Routledge. 978-1-135-79711-9. 47–66, 51. Sociolinguistics of the Indo-Aryan languages.
  12. Web site: 2023-10-10 . Kannada language History, Script & Dialects Britannica . 2023-11-09 . www.britannica.com . en.
  13. Web site: Kannada inscription at Talagunda may replace Halmidi as oldest .
  14. Web site: Declaration of Telugu and Kannada as classical languages. Press Information Bureau. Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Government of India. 31 October 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233830/http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=44340. 3 March 2016.
  15. Web site: 2023-11-01 . Telugu language Origin, History, & Facts Britannica . 2023-11-09 . www.britannica.com . en.
  16. Web site: Service . Express News . 2022-01-10 . First Telugu inscription claim sparks debate . 2024-06-17 . The New Indian Express . en.
  17. Web site: Malayalam language Dravidian, India, Scripts Britannica . 2023-11-09 . www.britannica.com . en.
  18. Web site: Classifying Malaylam as 'Classical Language' . PIB . 23 May 2013 . 21 January 2024 .
  19. Web site: 2023-10-13 . Odia language Region, History, & Basics Britannica . 2023-11-09 . www.britannica.com . en.
  20. Web site: Classifying Odia as classical Language . PIB . 20 February 2014 . 21 January 2024 .
  21. News: Singh. Binay. Removal of Pali as UPSC subject draws criticism. 20 February 2014. The Times of India. 5 May 2013.
  22. Web site: Didi, Naveen face-off over classical language status. The New Indian Express. 23 June 2013 . 2020-02-12.
  23. Web site: Bangla O Bangla Bhasha Banchao Committee. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/405846476110458/1109896535705445 . 2022-02-26 . limited. www.facebook.com. en. 2020-02-12.
  24. News: Clamour grows for Marathi to be given classical language status . Clara Lewis . 16 April 2018 . The Times of India .
  25. News: Marathi may become classical language. The Indian Express. 4 July 2013.
  26. News: बिहार की एक भी भाषा अब तक नहीं बनी शास्त्रीय भाषा, मैथिली हो सकता शामिल. 9 July 2021 . Jagran Team . Jagran.
  27. Web site: Manipur steps up to renew push for inclusion of Manipuri among India's classical languages (time duration of the movement) . . en-GB . The movement for recognizing Manipuri as a classical language began in 2013, yet there has been a gap in the follow up actions..
  28. Web site: MP for classical language status : 23rd sep20 ~ E-Pao! Headlines . e-pao.net.
  29. Web site: Process for recognising Manipuri as classical language of India underway: MP Sanajaoba . . en.
  30. Web site: 2023-10-25 . Pāli language Theravada Buddhism, Pali Canon, India Britannica . 2023-11-09 . www.britannica.com . en.
  31. Web site: 2018-02-21 . 'Manipur language which belongs to Tibeto-Burma has touched the criteria of a classical language' . en-GB.
  32. Web site: Manipuri is a classical language .