Classical languages of India
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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.
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]
- High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500–2000 years.
- A body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers
- The literary tradition be original and not borrowed from another speech community.
- 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.
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]
- 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.[6]
| Language | Language family | Language branch | Earliest attestation | Date recognised |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| தமிழ், Tamil | Dravidian | South Dravidian Middle Tamil |
Between 500 and 300 BCE[7][8] | 12 October 2004[9] |
| संस्कृतम्, Sanskrit | Indo-European | Indo-Aryan | 1st century BCE.[10] | 25 November 2005[9] |
| ಕನ್ನಡ, Kannada | Dravidian | South Dravidian Kannada dialects |
370 CE[11][12] | 31 October 2008[13] |
| తెలుగు, Telugu | Dravidian | South-Central Dravidian Early Telugu |
400 CE[14][15] | 31 October 2008[13] |
| മലയാളം, Malayalam | Dravidian | South Dravidian | 830 CE[16] | 23 May 2013[17] |
| ଓଡ଼ିଆ, Odia | Indo-European | Eastern Indo-Aryan | 10th-11th century CE[18] | 20 February 2014[19] |
Demands have been made for other languages to be officially accorded Classical status, including Pali,[20] Assamese,[21][22] Bengali,[23][24] Marathi,[25][26] Maithili[27] and Manipuri.[28][29][30]
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.[31]
Meitei
Meitei, or Manipuri, is a classical language of Sino-Tibetan linguistic family, having a literary tradition of not less than 2000 years.[32][33]
Maithili
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.[34] Additionally, the Charyapada, a collection of Buddhist mystical songs from the 8th century, also reflects the early development of Maithili.[35] 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.[36] [37]
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