Classical languages of India
The Indian Classical languages, or the Śāstrīya Bhāṣā or the Dhrupadī Bhāṣā (Assamese, Bengali) or the Abhijāta Bhāṣā (Marathi) or the Cemmoḻi (Tamil), is an umbrella term for the languages of India having high antiquity, and valuable, original and distinct literary heritage.[1] The Government of India declared in 2004 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. In 2004, Tamil became the first language to recognised as a classical language of India. As of 2024, 11 languages have been recognised as classical languages of India.
Criteria
[edit]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.[2]
The criteria were kept revising from time to time by the authorities.
Criteria in 2004
[edit]The following criteria were set during the time Tamil was given the classical language status by the government of India:[3]
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.[3]
Criteria in 2005
[edit]The following criteria were set during the time Sanskrit was given the classical language status by the government of India:[3]
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.[3]
The antiquity was increased from 1000 years to 1500-2000 years in this criteria. This criteria were kept unchanged for further selections of Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Odia.[3]
Criteria in 2024
[edit]The following criteria were set by the Sahitya Akademi:[3]
i. High antiquity of (its) is 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.[3]
The concept of “the literary tradition be original and not borrowed from another speech community” was replaced in the new criteria. Under these criteria, Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit were given the classical language status.[3]
Benefits
[edit]Academic opportunities
[edit]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:[4]
- Two major international awards for scholars of eminence in Classical Indian Languages are awarded annually.
- A Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Languages is set up.
- 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.[4]
Job employment opportunities
[edit]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.[3]
Officially recognised classical languages
[edit]| Language | Earliest attestation | Language family | Language branch | Date recognised |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| தமிழ், Tamil | Between 500 and 300 BCE[5][6] | Dravidian | South Dravidian Middle Tamil |
12 October 2004[7] |
| संस्कृतम्, Sanskrit | Between 100 and 500 CE[8][9] | Indo-European | Indo-Aryan | 25 November 2005[7] |
| ಕನ್ನಡ, Kannada | 450 CE[10][11] | Dravidian | South Dravidian Kannada dialects |
31 October 2008[12] |
| తెలుగు, Telugu | 575 CE[13][14] | South-Central Dravidian Early Telugu | ||
| മലയാളം, Malayalam | 830 CE[15] | South Dravidian | 23 May 2013[16] | |
| ଓଡ଼ିଆ, Odia | 10th century CE[17] | Indo-European | Eastern Indo-Aryan | 20 February 2014[4] |
| অসমীয়া, Assamese | 10th century CE[18][19] | 3 October 2024[3] | ||
| বাংলা, Bengali | 10th century CE[20] | |||
| मराठी/𑘦𑘨𑘰𑘙𑘲, Marathi | 8th century CE[21][22] | Southern Indo-Aryan | ||
| 𑀧𑀸𑀮𑀺/ 𐨤𐨫𐨁/ បាលី/ ပါဠိ/ บาลี/ පාලි/ পালি/ पालि, Pali | 3rd century BCE[23] | Middle Indo-Aryan | ||
| Prakrit | 3rd century BCE[24] |
Demand from other languages
[edit]Meitei
[edit]Meitei, or Manipuri, is a classical language of Sino-Tibetan linguistic family, having a literary tradition of not less than 2000 years.[25][26]
Maithili
[edit]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.[27] Additionally, the Charyapada, a collection of Buddhist mystical songs from the 8th century, also reflects the early development of Maithili.[28] The language is predominantly spoken in the Mithila region, encompassing parts of present-day Bihar 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.[29][30]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Reviving classical languages – Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". Dnaindia.com. 13 August 2015. Archived from the original on 21 September 2024. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
- ^ a b "India sets up classical languages". BBC. 17 September 2004. Archived from the original on 4 March 2007. Retrieved 1 May 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Cabinet approves conferring status of Classical Language to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali languages". Press Information Bureau.
- ^ a b c "Classical Status to Odiya Language". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 14 August 2013. Archived from the original on 11 March 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Archived copy l". 17 July 2018. Archived from the original on 2024-09-21. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
- ^ "Tamil language | Origin, History, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2023-11-03. Archived from the original on 2023-10-07. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
- ^ a b "Notification" (PDF). 25 November 2005. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ J. P. Mallory; Douglas Q. Adams (1997). Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture. Taylor & Francis. p. 306. ISBN 978-1-884964-98-5.
- ^ Michael Witzel 1989, pp. 115–127 (see pp. 26–30 in the archived-url).
- ^ "Kannada language | History, Script & Dialects | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2023-10-10. Archived from the original on 2020-01-02. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
- ^ "Kannada inscription at Talagunda may replace Halmidi as oldest". Archived from the original on 2023-11-14. Retrieved 2023-11-14.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Telugu language | Origin, History, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2023-11-01. Archived from the original on 2024-09-21. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
- ^ Service, Express News (2022-01-10). "First Telugu inscription claim sparks debate". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 2024-06-17. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ "Malayalam language | Dravidian, India, Scripts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Archived from the original on 2018-11-16. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
- ^ "Classifying Malaylam as 'Classical Language'". PIB. 23 May 2013. Archived from the original on 19 August 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
- ^ "Odia language | Region, History, & Basics | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2023-10-13. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
- ^ "Assamese language | Assamese Dialects, Brahmaputra Valley & Eastern India | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2024-08-31. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
Assamese literary tradition dates to the 13th century. Prose texts, notably buranjis (historical works), began to appear in the 16th century.
- ^ Deka, Joy Jyoti; Boro, Akashi Tara (2024-08-31). "Charyapads as the Oldest Written Specimen of Assamese Literature". International Journal of Health Sciences: 7028–7034. doi:10.53730/ijhs.v6nS1.6513.
Charyapads are considered as the first written specimen of Assamese literature.
- ^ "Bengali language | History, Writing System & Dialects | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2024-08-31. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
The Bengali linguists Suniti Kumar Chatterji and Sukumar Sen suggested that Bengali had its origin in the 10th century ce, deriving from Magahi Prakrit (a spoken language) through Magahi Apabhramsha (its written counterpart).
- ^ "Marathi literature | History, Authors & Works | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
Marathi literature is the oldest of the Indo-Aryan literatures, dating to about 1000 ce.
- ^ "'Kuvalayamālā: Prākr̥tabhāṣānibaddhā campūsvarūpā mahākathā, Part 2'".
- ^ "Pāli language | Theravada Buddhism, Pali Canon, India | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2024-08-29. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ^ "Prakrit". www.ames.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
- ^ "'Manipur language which belongs to Tibeto-Burma has touched the criteria of a classical language'". 2018-02-21.
- ^ "Manipuri is a classical language".
- ^ Choudhary, R. (1976). A survey of Maithili literature. Ram Vilas Sahu.
- ^ Barua, K. L. (1933). Early history of Kamarupa. Shillong: Published by the Author.
- ^ Jagran Team (9 July 2021). "बिहार की एक भी भाषा अब तक नहीं बनी शास्त्रीय भाषा, मैथिली हो सकता शामिल". Jagran.
- ^ Hindustan Team (26 July 2024). "मैथिली को शास्त्रीय भाषा के लिए नियमसंगत कार्रवाई होगी". Hindustan. Archived from the original on 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.