Why in the News?

Months after conferring classical language status to Marathi, the Union Government issued an official notification formalizing the recognition.

What is the Criteria for declaring a Classical language?

The Linguistic Experts Committee (LEC) under Sahitya Akademi, established in November 2004, evaluates languages for Classical status based on their historical, cultural, and literary significance. The criteria have evolved over time to ensure a rigorous and inclusive assessment.

• Original Criteria (2004): Introduced alongside the recognition of Tamil as the first Classical Language:
  • Recorded history or early texts must span over 1,000 years.
  • A body of ancient literature must be regarded as valuable by generations.
  • Literary traditions should be original, not borrowed from another speech community.
• Revised Criteria (2005): The criteria were revised to include stricter parameters, leading to the recognition of Sanskrit:
  • Antiquity of early texts over 1,500–2,000 years.
  • A significant corpus of ancient literature considered heritage.
  • Distinctiveness of classical language from modern forms.
  • A discontinuity between classical language and its later offshoots.
• Recent Upgrade (2024): The LEC  refined the criteria further to incorporate broader evidence and diverse literary forms. Five additional languages—Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali—were granted Classical status under these parameters:
  • Early texts/recorded history over 1,500–2,000 years.
  • Ancient literature/texts considered a cultural heritage.
  • Inclusion of knowledge texts, prose, epigraphical evidence, and inscriptions.
  • Classical language distinct from or discontinuous with its modern or evolved forms.
• Classical languages: Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013), Odia (2014); Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali (2024) along with Marathi.

What are the significance of Classical Language?

• Recognizing a classical language preserves its historical roots and unifies cultural heritage.
• It promotes academic research, translation, and scholarly employment opportunities.
• Gaining global awareness broadens its use in technology, academia, and global dialogue.
• Government support and funding ensure sustained preservation, research, and institutional development.

Historical Significance of Marathi Language

• Marathi’s 2,000-year history meets the antiquity criterion.
• Early mentions of “Marathi” in various forms, such as Maharashtri Prakrit, Jain Maharashtri, and Prakrit Marathi, point to its evolution.
• Over 100 stone inscriptions, including those in the Naneghat Caves (20 BCE), which contain Marathi commands alongside Sanskrit benedictions.
• Literary milestones: Works from the Yadava period (12th–13th century AD) such as:
  • Leelacharitra: A biography of Chakradhar Swami.
  • Dnyaneshwari: A commentary on the Bhagavad Gita by Sant Dnyaneshwar.
• The Pathare Committee (2013) and Sahitya Akademi supported Marathi’s case.
  • A massive postcard campaign with 500,000 letters sent to the Prime Minister demanding recognition.
• Dnyaneshwar Mulay’s Committee addressed administrative hurdles to finalize the proposal in February 2024.

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