The Union on Thursday (October 3) approved conferring status of Classical Language to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali languages.
The long-standing demand for conferring the classical language status to Marathi was finally fulfilled and the announcement was made by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
#WATCH | Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw says, "PM Modi has always focused on Indian languages... Today, 5 languages Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali have been approved as classical languages..." pic.twitter.com/M4l9ZLssCU
— ANI (@ANI) October 3, 2024
Following is the criteria for "Classical language"
- 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 heritage by generations of speakers.
- Knowledge texts, especially prose texts in addition to poetry, epigraphical and Inscriptional evidence.
- The classical languages and literature could be distinct from its current form or could be discontinuous with its later forms of its offshoots.