The Union Cabinet has accepted the designation of five new languages as “classical,” Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Thursday, adding to the country’s list of culturally significant languages.
According to Vaishnaw, the distinguished group includes Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali.
“PM Modi has always prioritized Indian languages…”Today, five languages – Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali – have been recognized as classical,” Vaishnaw stated.
These languages join Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia, which are currently considered classical languages.
The designation increases academic and cultural interest while also opening up new options for research and preservation of these ancient languages.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his gratitude on X, celebrating Assamese’s inclusion as a classical language.
“On behalf of the people of Assam, I extend my gratitude to Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji and the entire Union Cabinet for the historic decision to accord Assamese the status of Classical Language,” Sarma posted.
“This exemplifies the unique civilisational roots of Assam that have withstood the test of time. With today’s decision, we shall be able to better preserve our beloved mother tongue, that not only unites our society but also forms an unbroken link to the ancient wisdom of Assam’s saints, thinkers, writers, and philosophers.”
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Source: HT
