India's Linguistic Legacy Grows: Five Languages, Including Bengali and Marathi, Get Classical Status

In a major move to preserve India’s rich linguistic heritage, the Union Cabinet has granted classical language status to five Indian languages: Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali. The decision, made during a Cabinet meeting led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to boost recognition and preservation of these ancient languages.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described the decision as a testament to the government’s commitment to celebrating India’s diverse culture. He emphasized the importance of taking pride in the country’s heritage, noting that the recognition of these languages aligns with the government’s vision of cultural preservation.

The new classical language status is expected to create employment opportunities, particularly in academic, research, and cultural fields. The preservation of ancient texts, along with efforts in documentation and digitization, will open up jobs in archiving, translation, and digital media.

Each of these languages represents a distinct region in India—Marathi from Maharashtra, Pali and Prakrit from Bihar and neighboring states, Bengali from West Bengal, and Assamese from Assam. However, the benefits of this recognition will extend nationwide, fostering increased study and appreciation of these languages both within India and internationally.

The concept of classical language status was first introduced in 2004, with Tamil being the inaugural language to receive the designation. Other languages, including Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia, were later added. To qualify for this status, a language must have ancient texts over 1,000 years old, a rich literary tradition, and historical significance.

The inclusion of Marathi has been a long-awaited decision, especially after Maharashtra submitted a formal proposal in 2013. The Linguistic Experts Committee (LEC) recommended its inclusion after extensive evaluation. Proposals for Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali were also submitted by their respective states and endorsed by the LEC following consultations.

The Ministry of Education has already established institutions to promote classical languages, including several universities dedicated to Sanskrit and a Central Institute of Classical Tamil for research and translation work. The recent inclusion of these five languages expands the framework for research, preservation, and cultural development.

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