Bihar

• 08 Nov 2024

Cat Snake Spotted in Valmiki Tiger Reserve

Why in News?

The common cat snake (Boiga trigonata), a rare and minimally venomous species, was recently discovered in Bihar’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve.

Key Points

• About Common Cat Snake:
  • Also known as Indian gamma snake, the common cat snake is a species of rear-fanged snake endemic to South Asia.
• Features:
  • Thin, long body with smooth, non-glossy scales.
  • Greyish-brown dorsal with light zig-zag patterns; whitish belly with tiny spots.
  • Triangular head with a distinct Y-pattern on top.
  • Large golden eyes with vertical pupils.
• Habitat:
  • Found widely across the Indian Subcontinent.
  • Inhabits dense and open forests, rocky hills, and scrub jungles.
  • Hides in tree holes, crevices, and dense vegetation at low to moderate heights.
• Venom Characteristics:
  • Mildly venomous, the snake poses no significant threat to humans but impacts small animals.
• Lifespan: 12-20 years
• Diet: It primarily consists of small vertebrates.
• IUCN Red List: Least Concern.

Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR)

• The VTR is located in Bihar’s West Champaran district, bordering Nepal to its north and Uttar Pradesh to its west. It is the only tiger reserve in Bihar.
• Situated in the Gangetic plains bio-geographic region, the vegetation of this Tiger Reserve is a combination of Bhabar and Terai regions.
• Wild mammals include tiger, sloth bear, leopard, wild dog, bison, wild boar etc.
• Rivers Gandak, Pandai, Manor, Harha, Masan and Bhapsa flow through various parts of the reserve.

Maithili Missed Classical Status

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.