This gazette notification from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, announces the reclassification of five additional languages as 'Classical Languages'.
The reclassification is based on revised criteria for determining classical language status.
Key Changes
Previously, only Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia were officially classified as Classical Languages.
The Government of India revised the criteria for classifying a language as 'Classical'. The new criteria include: high antiquity of early texts (1500-2000 years), a body of ancient literature considered a heritage by generations of speakers, and knowledge texts (especially prose) in addition to poetry, epigraphical, and inscriptional evidence.
Based on the revised criteria, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali have been added to the list of Classical Languages.
Impact Analysis
Impact on Affected Languages
The enhanced status might boost the prestige and cultural significance of these languages.
Impact on Educational Institutions
Increased research opportunities may emerge in the fields of linguistics, literature, and history related to these languages.
Impact on Cultural Organizations
This could lead to more cultural events, publications, and initiatives focused on these languages.
Suggested Action Items
Cultural organizations should develop programs to promote the study and appreciation of these languages.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Culture, Government of India: The issuing authority of the gazette notification. Responsible for implementing the reclassification.
Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs Notification No. IV-14014/7/2004-NI-II (dated 12th October, 2004 and 25th November, 2005): The previous notification that established the initial criteria for classifying languages as Classical Languages. This notification is referenced as the basis for the revision.
Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali: The five languages newly classified as Classical Languages.
Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia: Languages previously classified as Classical Languages.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग I—खण्ड 1
PART I—Section 1
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 287] नई दिल्ली, िुक्रवार, अक्त बू र 4, 2024/आजव न 12, 1946
No. 287] NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2024/ASVINA 12, 1946
सस्ट्ं क ृजत तरं ालय
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल् ली, 4 अक् तूबर, 2024
फा.स.ं -एकेडी-26/2/2019-अकािती.—गृह तंरालय, भारत सरकार की अजधसूचना संख् या IV-14014/7/2004-
एनआई-II, तारीख 12 अक् तूबर, 2004 और 25 नवम् बर, 2005 द्वारा अजधकजित तानिडं ों के जनबंधानुसार, भाषाओं
अिाात,् तजतल, संस्ट्कृत, तेलगु ,ू कन्नड, तलयालत और ओजडया को प्राचीन भाषा के रूप त ेंवगीकृत दकया गया;
और, भारत सरकार न े तानिंडों को जनम्न ानुसार संिोजधत करने का जवजनश्चय दकया ह:ै
(i) इसके आरंजभक पाठों की उच् च पुरातनता/1500-2000 वषों की अवजध का अजभजलजखत इजतहास।
(ii) ऐसे प्राचीन साजहत् य/पाठ, िो इसे बोलने वाली पीढी-िर-पीढी द्वारा धरोहर तान े िाते हों, का एक जनकाय।
(iii) काव् य, पुरालेखीय और जिलालेखीय प्रताणों के अजतररक्त ्ान पाठों, जविेषकर गद्य पाठों पर भी जवचार दकया
िाएगा।
(iv) प्राचीन भाषाएं और साजहत् य अपन े वतातान रूप से जभ्न हो सकत े ह अिवा इनत ें या इनकी प्रिाखाओं के
उत् तरवती स्ट् वरूपों तें अंतर हो सकता ह।ै
और, तराठी, पाली, प्राकृत, असजतया और बगं ला भाषाएं उपयुाक्त तानिडं ों को परू ा करती ह।
2. अत: अब, भारत सरकार तराठी, पाली, प्राकृत, असजतया और बंगला भाषाओं को भी 'प्राचीन भाषा' के रूप त ें
वगीकृत करती ह।ै
अजतता प्रसाि सरभाई, संयुक् त सजचव
6447 GI/2024 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART I—SEC.1]
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 4th October, 2024
F. No. Akd-26/2/2019-Akad.—Whereas in terms of the criteria laid down vide Government of India,
Ministry of Home Affairs Notification No. IV-14014/7/2004-NI-II dated 12th October, 2004 and 25th November, 2005,
languages namely, Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Odia were classified as Classical Language;
And whereas the Government of India has decided to revise the criteria as follows:
(i) High antiquity of its early texts / recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years.
(ii) A body of ancient literature/ texts, which is considered a heritage by generations of speakers.
(iii) Knowledge texts, especially prose texts in addition to poetry, epigraphical and inscriptional evidence
would also be considered.
(iv) The classical languages and literature could be distinct from its current form or could
be discontinuous with its later forms or its offshoots;
And whereas Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali languages satisfy the above criteria.
2. Now, therefore, the Government of India hereby classifies Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali also
as a Classical Language.
AMITA PRASAD SARBHAI, Jt. Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.