classical languages of India

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.

The Central Government has revised the criteria 3 times.

The following criteria were set during the time Tamil was given the classical language status by the government of India:{{Cite web |title=Cabinet approves conferring status of Classical Language to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali languages |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2061660 |website=Press Information Bureau}}

{{Blockquote|A. High Antiquity of its early texts/ recorded history over a thousand years.

B. A body of ancient literature/ texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generation of speakers.

C. The literary tradition must be original and not borrowed from another speech community.}}

The following criteria were set during the time Sanskrit was given the classical language status by the government of India:

{{Blockquote|I. High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years.

II. A body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers.

III. The literary tradition be original and not borrowed from another speech community.

IV. 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.}}

After classical language status was granted to Tamil in 2004, there have been similar demands for other languages.{{Cite news |date=2018-04-16 |title=Clamour grows for Marathi to be given classical language status |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/clamour-grows-for-marathi-to-be-given-classical-language-status/articleshow/63776578.cms |access-date=2024-12-29 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} Subsequently Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013) and Odia (2014) were given the status.

The following criteria were set by the Sahitya Akademi:

{{Blockquote|i. High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years.

ii. A body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a heritage by generations of speakers.

iii. Knowledge texts, especially prose texts in addition to poetry, epigraphical and inscriptional evidence.

iv. The Classical Languages and literature could be distinct from its current form or could be discontinuous with later forms of its offshoots.}}

Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit were given the classical language status in October, 2024.{{Cite news |last=Chakrabarty |first=Sreeparna |date=2024-10-06 |title=Five languages got classical status after 'original literary tradition' norm was dropped |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/five-languages-got-classical-status-after-original-literary-tradition-norm-was-dropped/article68724949.ece?_gl=1*km07zc*_ga*YW1wLWVuaDZKRVFQVG92c2taOUFUQkxfMWhMdXctblNkc3VuRllvSnhJYUlCUF9ydkk1SmNZdFJzblZpUEtJSDJnSkk.*_ga_MHCVDGHV0S*MTcyODMzMjY2NC4xLjEuMTcyODMzMjY2NS4wLjAuMA.. |access-date=2024-10-07 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}

Upon dropping the criteria for "original literary tradition", the Linguistic Expert Committee justified their decision by stating the following:{{Cite news |last=Chakrabarty |first=Sreeparna |date=2024-10-06 |title=Five languages got classical status after 'original literary tradition' norm was dropped |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/five-languages-got-classical-status-after-original-literary-tradition-norm-was-dropped/article68724949.ece?_gl=1*km07zc*_ga*YW1wLWVuaDZKRVFQVG92c2taOUFUQkxfMWhMdXctblNkc3VuRllvSnhJYUlCUF9ydkk1SmNZdFJzblZpUEtJSDJnSkk.*_ga_MHCVDGHV0S*MTcyODMzMjY2NC4xLjEuMTcyODMzMjY2NS4wLjAuMA.. |access-date=2024-10-07 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}

{{Quote|“We discussed it in detail and understood that it was a very difficult thing to prove or disprove as all ancient languages borrowed from each other, but recreated the texts in their own way. On the contrary, archaeological, historical and numismatic evidence are tangible things”|Linguistic Expert Committee{{Cite news |last=Chakrabarty |first=Sreeparna |date=2024-10-06 |title=Five languages got classical status after 'original literary tradition' norm was dropped |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/five-languages-got-classical-status-after-original-literary-tradition-norm-was-dropped/article68724949.ece?_gl=1*km07zc*_ga*YW1wLWVuaDZKRVFQVG92c2taOUFUQkxfMWhMdXctblNkc3VuRllvSnhJYUlCUF9ydkk1SmNZdFJzblZpUEtJSDJnSkk.*_ga_MHCVDGHV0S*MTcyODMzMjY2NC4xLjEuMTcyODMzMjY2NS4wLjAuMA.. |access-date=2024-10-07 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}}}

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:{{cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=98244|title=Classical Status to Odiya Language|publisher=Press Information Bureau, Government of India|date=14 August 2013|access-date=18 January 2023|archive-date=11 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311174721/https://pib.gov.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=98244|url-status=live}}

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.

The recognition of these classical languages will give job employment opportunities, especially in academic and research areas. Moreover, the preservation, documentation, and digitization of ancient texts of these languages will provide employment opportunities to people in archiving, translation, publishing, and digital media.

{{Hatnote|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.}}

{{Further|Ancient Meitei literature|Meitei classical language movement}}

Meitei, or Manipuri, is a language of Sino-Tibetan linguistic family, having a long literary tradition.{{Cite web |date=2018-02-21 |title='Manipur language which belongs to Tibeto-Burma has touched the criteria of a classical language' |url=https://www.pothashang.in/2018/02/21/manipuri-language-belongs-tibeto-burma-touched-criteria-classical-language/ |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Manipuri is a classical language |url=http://e-pao.net/epPageExtractor.asp?src=MeiteiMayek.Manipuri_is_a_classical_language_By_Free_Thinker.html}}

{{Further|Maithili literature|Maithili music}}

Maithili is an Eastern Indo-Aryan language with a literary tradition that traces its roots back to the 7th and 8th centuries. The earliest known example of Maithili can be found in the Mandar Hill Sen inscription from the 7th century, which provides evidence of its ancient lineage.Choudhary, R. (1976). [https://books.google.com/books?lr=&id=C0f898HDLAYC&pg=PA1 A survey of Maithili literature]. Ram Vilas Sahu. Additionally, the Charyapada, a collection of Buddhist mystical songs from the 8th century, also reflects the early development of Maithili.{{cite book |author=Barua, K. L. |year=1933 |title=Early history of Kamarupa |location=Shillong |publisher=Published by the Author |url=https://archive.org/details/EarlyHistoryOfKamarupa}} The language is predominantly spoken in the Mithila region, encompassing parts of present-day Bihar, Jharkhand and Nepal. Maithili's rich literary heritage includes epic poetry, philosophical texts, and devotional songs, such as the works of the 14th-century poet Vidyapati. Though it has a distinct script, Tirhuta, Devanagari is commonly used today. Despite its profound historical and cultural significance, Maithili has yet to be recognized as a "classical language" by the Government of India, leading to ongoing demands for such recognition.{{cite news |url=https://www.jagran.com/bihar/madhubani-not-a-single-language-of-bihar-has-become-a-classical-language-yet-maithili-may-be-included-21816443.html |title=बिहार की एक भी भाषा अब तक नहीं बनी शास्त्रीय भाषा, मैथिली हो सकता शामिल|date=9 July 2021 |author=Jagran Team |newspaper=Jagran}}{{cite news|url=https://www.livehindustan.com/bihar/patna/story-regulatory-action-will-be-taken-to-make-maithili-a-classical-language-10553331.html/|title=मैथिली को शास्त्रीय भाषा के लिए नियमसंगत कार्रवाई होगी|date=26 July 2024|author=Hindustan Team|newspaper=Hindustan|access-date=2 September 2024|archive-date=2 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240902085028/https://www.livehindustan.com/bihar/patna/story-regulatory-action-will-be-taken-to-make-maithili-a-classical-language-10553331.html/|url-status=live}}

Besides the literary achievements, the status of classical language is granted, sometimes influenced by the political parties of the states or union territories of the respective languages where these are spoken or are based in, or the national parties, advocating for the certain languages to be accorded the demanded status.{{Cite web |last=Chavan |first=Akshay |date=2022-02-27 |title=Marathi and the Politics of 'Classical' Languages |url=https://www.peepultree.world/livehistoryindia/story/eras/marathi-and-the-politics-of-classical-languages?srsltid=AfmBOoqvvRBTD6SWtTb5yPZpPyXGwzE0sb_zrbPFtahnIHp7aVy251dz |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=PeepulTree |language=en}}

A lawyer from the Madras High Court legally challenged against the official classical status of Malayalam and Odia, in 2015.{{Cite news |date=2015-03-04 |title=PIL in Madras HC opposes classical language status for Malayalam, Odia |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/pil-in-madras-hc-opposes-classical-language-status-for-malayalam-odia/articleshow/46454207.cms |access-date=2024-10-16 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}} There was a long legal proceeding for almost one year. Later, the Madras High Court disposed the case against the mentioned languages' status of being officially "classical" in 2016.{{Cite news |date=2016-08-09 |title=Madras HC disposes of pleas challenging classical status to Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Madras-HC-disposes-of-pleas-challenging-classical-status-to-Kannada-Telugu-Malayalam/article14560305.ece |access-date=2024-10-16 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web |date=2016-09-07 |title=Madras High Court bats for classical languages |url=https://indialegallive.com/cover-story-articles/il-feature-news/madras-high-court-bats-classical-languages/ |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=India Legal |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2016-08-08 |title=Madras High Court disposes plea against classical status to non-Tamil languages |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/language-status-tamil-nadu-kannada-telugu-malayalam-madras-high-court-2961622/ |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}

• Indian classical dance
• Indian classical music

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.telegraphindia.com/topic/classical-language?_gl=1*12exe0r*_ga*Z3NoT2xuSWJZUzVJbjd6RDRsbnFiUVJTcHQwdnpUUFN2a1JnRWxIZndVdzF2QzhDdUljNjgwc2pCdnA3bUEyRg..*_ga_H2BD8F4GE7*MTcyODMzNDAzMC4xLjEuMTcyODMzNDAzMC4wLjAuMA..*_ga_SSD7Y8HRYC*MTcyODMzNDAzMC4xLjEuMTcyODMzNDAzMC4wLjAuMA.. Classical languages of India] at Telegraph India
• [https://www.ifp.co.in/tag/classical-language Classical languages of India] at IFP

{{Languages of India}}

{{Languages of South Asia}}

Category:Classical Language in India