When someone talks about the classical language, they don't refer to the raags or taals of Indian classical music.
Instead, they typically refer to ancient languages like Tamil, Malayalam, Sanskrit, Telugu, and more that are no longer spoken in everyday conversation. These languages are studied for their historical and cultural significance, as well as their influence on modern languages and literature.
Recently, the government of India has added Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali to the list of classical languages, recognising their rich literary tradition and cultural importance.
According to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the government is taking steps to promote classical languages to preserve India’s rich heritage and enhance linguistic diversity.
What is a Classical Language?
A classical language is defined as a language that possesses an independent literary tradition and a substantial body of ancient written literature. These languages often have historical significance and are typically associated with a rich cultural heritage.
Many classical languages are no longer spoken as native languages, but they continue to influence modern languages and cultures. Classical languages serve as vital links to the past, preserving the literary and cultural achievements of earlier civilisations.
For example, Latin and Ancient Greek are prominent classical languages; Latin was the language of the Roman Empire and has greatly influenced many modern European languages, while Ancient Greek is known for its literary contributions from authors like Homer.
Other examples include Sanskrit, which is foundational to many Indian languages and has a vast corpus of religious and philosophical texts, and Classical Chinese, which has shaped East Asian literature and philosophy.
List of the Classical Languages Approved by the Govt. of India
Here's the list of the classical languages approved by the government of India and recognised by the Constitution:
| Language | Date of Notification | Notes |
| Tamil | 12/10/2004 | The first language to be recognised as a classical language in India. |
| Sanskrit | 25/11/2005 | Recognised for its ancient texts and literary tradition. |
| Telugu | 31/10/2008 | Gained status due to its rich literary heritage. |
| Kannada | 31/10/2008 | Noted for its significant body of ancient literature. |
| Malayalam | 08/08/2013 | Recognised for its unique literary contributions. |
| Odia | 01/03/2014 | Last of the earlier recognised languages before the recent additions. |
| Marathi | 03/10/2024 | Recently added; recognised for its long literary tradition and historical significance. |
| Pali | 03/10/2024 | Important for its role in Buddhist texts and literature. |
| Prakrit | 03/10/2024 | Known for its use in ancient Indian literature and inscriptions. |
| Assamese | 03/10/2024 | Recognised for its historical texts and cultural significance in Northeast India. |
| Bengali | 03/10/2024 | Noted for its extensive literary heritage, including poetry and prose. |
Source: Central Institute of Indian Languages
What are the Criteria for Declaring a Classical Language?
If you have seen some of the ancient scriptures or texts, you may have noticed that they were written in a language that is no longer commonly used today. Once these languages were considered sacred and were used exclusively for religious or ceremonial purposes.
Therefore, to preserve the history and teachings contained within these texts, the government of India created a separate category called ‘Classical Languages’ on October 12, 2004.
They declared 'Tamil' to be the classical language based on its over-a-millennium-long history, valuable texts and literature, and originality. However, there had to be a team of experts to determine the criteria for classifying a language as classical and to evaluate other languages for potential inclusion in this category.
As a result, in November 2004, the Ministry of Culture established a Linguistic Experts Committee (LEC) under the Sahitya Akademi to assess the eligibility of languages proposed for classical language status.
Sanskrit was officially recognised as a classical language the next year. Telugu and Kannada were added to the list gradually in 2008, with Malayalam and Odia following in 2013 and 2014.
The following standards were outlined by the PIB to declare a language to be classical:
- High Antiquity: The language must have a documented history or early texts that date back at least 1,500 to 2,000 years. This ensures that the language has a long-standing presence and cultural significance.
- Valuable Heritage: There must be a substantial body of ancient literature or texts that are considered valuable heritage by the generations of speakers. This literature should reflect the richness and depth of the language's literary tradition.
- Originality: The literary tradition of the language should be original, meaning it should not be derived from another speech community. This criterion emphasises the unique contributions of the language to literature and culture.
- Distinctness from Modern Forms: There should be a clear distinction between the classical form of the language and its modern versions. This may involve a potential discontinuity, indicating that the classical language has evolved significantly over time.
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