Criteria For Classical Language | 10 Jul 2024

Source: TH

Why in News?

Recently, the Central government has decided to modify the criteria for granting classical language status, following recommendations from the Linguistics Expert Committee of the Union Culture Ministry. 

What are Classical Languages?

• About:
  • In 2004, the Government of India decided to create a new category of languages called “classical languages”.
  • In 2006, it laid down the criteria for conferring classical language status. So far, the 6 languages are granted classical language status.

• Criteria:
  • High antiquity of early texts/recorded history spanning 1,500–2,000 years.
  • Possession of a body of ancient literature/texts considered valuable heritage by generations.
  • Presence of an original literary tradition not borrowed from another speech community.
  • The classical language and literature being distinct from modern, there can also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots.
• Benefits:
  • Once a language is declared classical, it gets financial assistance for setting up a centre of excellence for the study of that language and also opens up an avenue for two major awards for scholars of eminence.
  • Additionally, the University Grants Commission can be requested to establish professional chairs for scholars of classical languages, starting with central universities.
• Recent Developments:
  • The Central government has decided to modify the criteria for granting classical language status, following recommendations from the Linguistics Expert Committee of the Union Culture Ministry. 
    • The Linguistics Expert Committee comprises representatives of the Union Ministries of Home, Culture and four to five linguistic experts at any given time. It is chaired by the president of the Sahitya Akademi. 
  • The new criteria will be officially notified once approved by the Union Cabinet.
    • It has delayed the consideration of languages like Marathi for classical status.
  • There have been demands from other languages groups to classify their languages as classical language. For example Bengali, Tulu etc. 
    • According to National Education Policy-2020 works of literature of Pali, Persian, and Prakrit shall also be preserved.

What are the Arguments for Inclusion of Various Languages as Classical Language?

• Bengali: According to the language family, Bengali is categorised as a Modern or New Indo- Aryan language of the Indo-European language family.
  • Bengali alphabets and terms started to appear in the literatures of as early as 10^th century AD. Since then it had gone through significant stages of development to finally take the present shape.
  • However, a panel established by the Bengal government established that Bengali's origin is 2,500 years ago with concrete evidence showing its written existence as early as the 3rd-4th BCE.
    • Research indicates that bengali retains its fundamental syntactic structure, as well as its distinct morphological and phonological patterns, throughout its course of evolution at least from 3rd BCE. 
• Tulu: Tulu is a Dravidian language spoken mainly in two coastal districts Dakshina Kannada and Udupi of Karnataka and Kasaragod district of Kerala. 
  • Scholars suggest Tulu is the language that was segregated from the original Dravidian languages some 2,000 years ago and is one of the most highly developed languages of the Dravidian family. 
  • The language has also been mentioned in the Sangama Literature of Tamil and in Greek Mythology. 
  • Tulu has a rich oral literature tradition with folk-song forms like paddana, and traditional folk theatre yakshagana.

What are the Constitutional Provisions Related to Language?

• Eighth Schedule:
  • It was intended to promote the progressive use of Hindi and for the enrichment and promotion of the language.
  • Article 344(1) provides for the constitution of a Commission by the President on expiration of five years from the commencement of the Constitution for the progressive use of Hindi for official purposes of the Union. 
  • Article 351 of the Constitution provides that it shall be the duty of the Union to promote the spread of the Hindi language to develop it so that it may serve as a medium of expression for all the elements of the composite culture of India.
  • Languages in the Eighth Schedule: The Eighth Schedule to the Constitution consists of the following 22 languages:
    • Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili and Dogri. 
      • Of these languages, 14 were initially included.
      • Sindhi language was added in 1967 (21st Amendment Act).
      • Three more languages Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were included in 1992 (71st Amendment Act).
      • Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santhali were added in 2004 (92nd Amendment Act).
  • Demands of Languages for Inclusion in the Eighth Schedule: At present, there are demands for inclusion of 38 more languages in the Eighth Schedule. Example: Angika, Banjara, Bazika, Bhojpuri etc.
  • Present Status on Inclusion of Languages in the Eighth Schedule: As the evolution of dialects and languages is dynamic, influenced by socio eco-political developments, the matter is still under government consideration and the decision will be taken in line with the recommendation of the Pahwa (1996) and Sitakant Mohapatra (2003) Committee.
• Language of The Union:
  • Article 120: Deals with the language to be used in Parliament.
  • Article 210: Similar to Article 120 but applies to the State Legislature.
  • Article 343: Declares Hindi in Devnagari script as the official language of the Union.
• Regional Languages:
  • Article 345: Allows the state legislature to adopt any official language for the state.
  • Article 346: Specifies the official language for communication between states and between states and the Union.
  • Article 347: Allows the President to recognise any language spoken by a section of the population of a state if demanded.
• Special Directives:
  • Article 29: It protects the interests of minorities. It states that any section of citizens with a distinct language, script, or culture has the right to preserve it.
  • Article 350: Ensures that every person has the right to submit a representation for the redress of any grievance in any language used in the Union or the State.
    • Article 350A: Directs States to provide adequate facilities for instruction in the mother tongue at the primary stage of education to children belonging to linguistic minority groups.
    • Article 350B: Establishes a Special Officer for linguistic minorities appointed by the President, tasked with investigating matters relating to safeguards provided for linguistic minorities under the Constitution.