Maithili Missed Classical Status

• 08 Nov 2024

Why in News?

According to the sources, Maithili was not granted classical status, despite recurring demands, as the Bihar government did not formally submit the proposal.

Key Points

• Recommendation Process:
  • Classical status for languages is recommended by a Linguistics Expert Committee with representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, chaired by the Sahitya Akademi president.
  • After the committee’s recommendation, Union Cabinet approval and a gazette notification are required.
• Maithili Proposal Technicality:
  • Although the Maithili Sahitya Sansthan in Patna prepared a proposal for Maithili’s classical status, the Bihar government did not forward it to the Union Home Ministry as required.
• Cultural and Linguistic Importance of Maithili:
  • According to the 2011 census, India has approximately 12 million Maithili speakers.
  • Recognized in the Eighth Schedule since 2003, Maithili is an optional subject in the Union Public Service Commission exam and has official language status in Jharkhand as of 2018. It is widely spoken in Bihar, Jharkhand, and Nepal.
• Political Advocacy for Maithili’s Status:
  • The Janata Dal (United) has consistently supported Maithili’s classical status.
  • Maithili’s 1,300-year literary heritage and ongoing evolution are highlighted as grounds for its classical status.
• Recent Classical Language Recognitions:
  • In October 2024, Assamese, Bengali, and three other languages were granted classical status, following proposals from respective state governments.
  • Previously, Sanskrit, Pali, and Prakrit were considered by the committee, with only Sanskrit recognized in 2005.
• Benefits of Attaining Classical Language Status:
  • Recognized classical languages receive Ministry of Education support, including two annual awards to honor distinguished scholars.
  • A Centre of Excellence is established for dedicated studies, and professional academic chairs are set up at central universities.

Maithili Language

• Maithili is a language spoken in Bihar belonging to the eastern sub-group of the Indo-Aryan branch. Bhojpuri and Magadhi are closely related to the language.
• The language is claimed to have developed from the Magadhan Prakrit.
  • It was the literary language of all of eastern India during the medieval period.
• It was popularised in the 14th century by poet Vidyapati and solidified the importance of the language in literature.
• Maithili language has been accorded Constitutional status in 2003 and it became one of the 22 languages mentioned in the 8^th Schedule of the Constitution.