A classical language is any language that has an autonomous literary history and a substantial and ancient corpus of written literature. In India, there are now six 'Classical' languages. The Eighth Schedule of the Constitution lists all Classical Languages. In 2004, the Indian government decided to create a new category of languages known as "classical languages." It created the criteria for conferring classical language designation in 2006. This article explains the Classical Language which is important for UPSC Indian Polity Preparation.

Classical Language in India

• A classical language is one that has its own literature and a significant and ancient corpus of written script.
• They are dead languages because the spoken dialects of the languages have deviated from the classical written language over decades.
• The official language of India, according to Article 343, should be Hindi in the Devanagari script.
• We have 22 languages, according to the Indian Constitution's Eighth Schedule.
• The Indian Government decided in 2004 to declare Indian languages that meet specific criteria as "Classical Languages."
• The Ministry of Culture offers rules that must be followed in order to be classified as a classical language in India.

Criteria For Declaring a Language As Classical Language

• High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history spanning 1,500–2,000 years;
• A body of ancient literature/texts regarded as a valuable heritage by generations of speakers;
• A literary tradition that is original and not borrowed from another speech community.
• Since the classical language and literature are distinct from the modern, there may be a gap between the classical language and its later forms or offshoots.

Languages Declared so far as Classical Languages

Currently six languages enjoy the ‘Classical’ status. These are:

Significance

The Human Resource and Development Ministry stated the following benefits of notifying a language as a Classical language:

• Two major international awards are given each year to eminent scholars of classical Indian languages.
• A Centre of Excellence for Classical Language Studies has been established.
• The University Grants Commission is asked to establish, at least in the Central Universities, a certain number of Professional Chairs for the declared Classical Languages.

Criticism

• The status of a classical language translates into substantial funds and awards.
• The government has been chastised for failing to include Pali as a classical language, despite the fact that experts argue meets all the criteria.
• The question of a government declaring a language, or a few languages, classical is a political one, with profound implications for the practice of linguistic democracy in a multilingual nation like India.
• There have been shaky evidence and contentious theories about the origins of the languages that stake their claims.
• Many Indian languages with only a few speakers, many of them tribal, are already extinct or on the verge of extinction for a variety of reasons, including the new monolingual culture promoted by globalization as well as our educational system, which places little emphasis on mother tongues and other Indian languages.

Way Forward

• The University Grants Commission (UGC) awards research projects which promote classical languages.
• The proposal to grant a classical language status to 'Marathi'is currently under consideration.

Recent News

• The Rajya Sabha has passed a Bill granting three designated Sanskrit institutions the status of Central universities.
• The Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan and Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth in Delhi, as well as the Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth in Tirupati, now have Central status under the Central Sanskrit Universities Bill, 2019.
• The government of India has been accused of ignoring other ancient languages.

Conclusion

The objective of any democratic government is to encourage all Indian languages, with particular initiatives for the weaker languages if required, rather than to construct a new hierarchy, a virtual caste system, among the existing languages based on classical grandeur in order to promote the savarna languages. Finally, whether classical or not, languages are the repository of human knowledge, forming humanity's collective heritage and patrimony.

FAQs

Question. What is a classical language?

Question. What are the criteria for declaring a language as classical in India?

Question. Which languages have been declared classical in India?

Question. What benefits come with the status of a classical language?

Question. Why are some languages not included in the classical list?

MCQs

1. Which of the following languages was declared a classical language in 2005?

A) Kannada

B) Tamil

C) Sanskrit

D) Malayalam

2. Which of the following is a feature of classical languages in India?

A) They must have a population of over 10 million speakers

B) They must have a substantial and ancient corpus of literature

C) They must be spoken by the majority of the population

D) They must have no dialects

3. Which Indian language was declared as a classical language in 2013?

A) Hindi

B) Telugu

C) Malayalam

D) Odia

4. The Ministry of Human Resource Development is responsible for which of the following regarding classical languages?

A) Creating regional linguistic policies

B) Declaring languages as classical

C) Teaching classical languages in schools

D) Formulating language scripts

5. What is the primary function of a Centre of Excellence for Classical Language Studies?

A) To offer language courses for children

B) To research and promote the study of classical languages

C) To establish regional dialects

D) To develop modern versions of classical languages

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the significance of the classical language status and its implications for the preservation of cultural heritage.

Answer: The designation of a language as classical provides recognition and ensures the preservation of its literary and cultural heritage. Classical languages, such as Tamil, Sanskrit, and Telugu, represent the rich traditions of ancient India, with substantial bodies of literature that have shaped the cultural and intellectual landscape of the country. The recognition of these languages supports academic research, scholarships, and the promotion of literature, while also safeguarding the linguistic history for future generations. Furthermore, it encourages the teaching of these languages in universities, helping to maintain their legacy and promoting understanding of India’s diverse cultural roots.

Q2: Analyze the role of classical languages in the development of Indian polity and their impact on contemporary society.

Answer: Classical languages play a crucial role in shaping India’s polity, as they represent a deep cultural connection to the nation's history, philosophies, and legal systems. Texts in classical languages like Sanskrit and Tamil have influenced Indian political thought, ethics, law, and governance. By fostering a deeper understanding of ancient texts, classical languages also provide insights into the evolution of Indian society and governance. In contemporary society, the recognition of these languages as classical promotes the study of ancient texts, further connecting modern governance with historical principles. Additionally, the classical language status helps preserve these languages, which are essential in understanding India’s diverse heritage.

Q3: Evaluate the challenges faced by the classical language movement in India and suggest ways to promote lesser-known languages.

Answer: The classical language movement faces several challenges, including political debate over which languages should be classified as classical and the neglect of many regional and tribal languages that are on the brink of extinction. The lack of resources for promoting lesser-known languages, combined with globalization and the dominance of Hindi and English in formal settings, further weakens the position of regional languages. To promote lesser-known languages, the government should create more regional language centres, offer financial support for language research, and encourage the teaching of these languages at primary and secondary school levels. Additionally, initiatives such as language revitalization programs, media representation, and cultural recognition can help prevent the extinction of languages, thereby preserving India’s linguistic diversity.

Previous Year Questions on Classical Language

1. UPSC CSE 2018

Question: "Examine the criteria for a language to be recognized as classical and discuss the impact of this recognition on the language and its speakers."

Answer: The recognition of a language as classical requires that it has a rich ancient literature, a significant body of texts, and an independent literary tradition. This recognition brings resources for the promotion of the language, encouraging academic research, teaching, and scholarship. It also contributes to the pride and cultural identity of speakers, enhancing the preservation of the language for future generations. Classical language status can lead to financial support, the establishment of research centres, and the creation of academic chairs, benefiting both the language and its speakers.

2. UPSC CSE 2017

Question: "Discuss the significance of the recognition of Malayalam as a classical language and its implications for cultural and academic promotion."

Answer: The recognition of Malayalam as a classical language in 2013 highlighted the rich literary tradition of Kerala and its ancient corpus of texts. This recognition helps ensure that Malayalam literature is preserved and promoted in academic and cultural institutions, encouraging more research into its ancient texts. It also provides a sense of pride to the speakers of Malayalam, fostering a deeper connection to their cultural heritage. The status of classical language opens avenues for funding research, establishing institutions for language studies, and strengthening its presence in global academic forums.