Language upgrade eludes Manipuri
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, October 03 2024: The union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi granted classical language status to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali.

This decision comes amid ongoing demands for Manipuri to be included in the category, as the push to recognise ancient Indian languages continues to grow.

The classical language status honours languages with rich historical and cultural heritage, helping preserve their ancient literature and traditions.

This recognition carries profound significance for the communities and states that speak these languages, as it is a marker of their cultural milestones and contributions to India's history.

The recognition of Classical Language status was first established in 2004, with Tamil being the first recipient of this prestigious designation.

To qualify, a language must meet a stringent set of criteria, revised in 2005, to ensure it reflects a high antiquity and a body of ancient literature.

Specifically, a language must possess high antiquity of early texts or recorded history spanning over 1500-2000 years; a body of ancient literature considered a valuable cultural heritage by successive generations of speakers; a literary tradition that is original and not borrowed from another speech community; and a distinct separation between the classical language and its modern form, often with a discontinuity between the classical form and its later offshoots.

Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia are the languages that have previously been granted this status, with the new additions broadening the scope of India's recognised linguistic heritage.

The process to recognise Marathi as a Classical Language has been ongoing for years.

A proposal submitted by the Maharashtra government in 2013 was forwarded to the Linguistic Experts Committee (LEG) under the Ministry of Culture, and the committee subsequently recommended Marathi for the status.

However, consultations and revisions, including suggestions from the ministry of home affairs to make the criteria stricter, delayed the final decision.

Alongside Marathi, proposals from Bihar, Assam, and West'Bengal to recognise Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali as Classical Languages were also received.

After extensive consultations, these languages have now been approved, reflecting their ancient literary traditions and historical significance.

The conferring of classical language status to these languages is expected to have a wide-reaching impact.

The designation not only helps preserve ancient texts and literature but also opens up significant employment opportunities, particularly in academic research, translation, publishing, archiving, and digital media.

The digitisation of ancient texts and documentation will require specialized personnel, adding to job creation in various sectors.

The recognition also carries substantial cultural prestige, further encouraging the study and promotion of these languages in educational institutions across the country.

Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba, who is also the titular king of Manipur, has been actively advocating for the inclusion of Manipuri in the classical language category.

In August 2024, the Modi government allocated an initial sum of Rs 18 crore to promote the Manipuri language and its traditional script, Meetei Mayek.

Sanajaoba expressed optimism about achieving classical language status for Manipuri, noting that all necessary documentation has been meticulously prepared and is ready for submission to the Central government.

He highlighted that Manipuri's rich history, spanning over 2000 years as recorded in royal chronicles, meets the criteria set for classical language status.

Despite the delay, which Sanajaoba attributed to unforeseen circumstances, the proposal is now expected to be reviewed by the Central government.

If approved, Manipuri could become the seventh language in India to receive Classical Language status, joining an elite group of languages that are recognized for their cultural and historical importance, the Rajya Sabha MP stated.

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