Marathi, Bengali among five granted classical language status by Union Cabinet

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Last Updated05/10/2024

The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved classical language status to Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Pali, and Prakrit.

On October 3, 2024, the Union Cabinet approved the long-awaited classical language status for Marathi, Bengali, Assamese, Pali, and Prakrit, expanding the list of India's classical languages from six to eleven.
This decision fulfills demands that have been pending for years, particularly for Marathi, and arrives just before key political events such as Maharashtra’s Assembly elections and West Bengal’s Durga Puja celebrations.

India previously recognized six classical languages: Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Sanskrit, and Odia. Tamil was the first language to receive this status in 2004, followed by Sanskrit in 2005.

The Union Culture Ministry revealed that the criteria for classical language designation were revised in July 2024 by the Linguistics Experts Committee, chaired by the Sahitya Akademi.
The committee included representatives from the Ministries of Home and Culture, as well as linguistic scholars. This decision marks a significant shift in India's language policy and acknowledges the longstanding demands of the respective language communities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media platform X to congratulate the speakers of the newly designated classical languages.
On Marathi: Modi praised Marathi, calling it “India’s pride,” and expressed hope that its classical status would motivate more people to learn the language. He also acknowledged Marathi's rich cultural contributions to India.
On Bengali: Modi noted that Bengali's recognition coincides with Durga Puja, a significant festival in West Bengal. He highlighted Bengali literature's influence over the years and extended congratulations to Bengali speakers worldwide.

Once a language is recognized as classical, it is entitled to various government initiatives and academic support:
Annual International Awards: Two major awards are granted annually to scholars of eminence in these languages.
Centre of Excellence: A center for the study of classical languages is established to promote research and scholarship.
University Grants Commission (UGC): The UGC is tasked with creating professional chairs for the study of classical languages, starting with central universities.
Employment Opportunities: The Union Culture Ministry stated that this designation would generate job opportunities in academia, research, and archiving, as well as in the preservation, digitization, and translation of ancient texts.

The announcement was met with joy and pride, particularly in Maharashtra, where the recognition of Marathi as a classical language had been a longstanding demand.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde expressed gratitude, calling it a successful culmination of a long struggle. He thanked PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and other central government officials for their efforts.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis echoed the sentiment, calling it a “golden moment” and a proud day for Marathi speakers.