India Adds Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, Bengali to Classical Languages List

The Union Cabinet has approved classical language status for five Indian languages: Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali. The decision, announced on Monday, October 27, expands the list of officially recognised classical languages to 11.

The new additions place these languages alongside Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia — all previously designated as classical languages.

What Classical Status Means

Classical language status comes with tangible benefits. The Ministry of Education provides dedicated funding for research centres, academic chairs, and preservation projects. The tag also signals a language's historical depth and literary richness.

To qualify, a language must have a recorded history spanning at least 1,500 years. It must possess a body of ancient literature considered valuable by generations of speakers. The criteria also require that the language be distinct from its modern forms, with a clear break between classical and contemporary usage.

The Five New Classical Languages

Marathi

Marathi, spoken by over 83 million people primarily in Maharashtra, has a literary tradition dating back to the 13th century. The language boasts works by saint-poets like Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram, as well as modern literature recognised globally.

Pali

Pali is the liturgical language of Theravada Buddhism. It preserves the Tripitaka, the earliest collection of Buddhist scriptures. Though no longer a spoken vernacular, Pali remains central to Buddhist studies across Asia.

Prakrit

Prakrit refers to a group of Middle Indo-Aryan languages used in ancient Indian inscriptions and Jain texts. Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, is believed to have preached in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit.

Assamese

Assamese, the official language of Assam, has a literary history stretching back to the 14th century. Its early works include the Prachina Kamrupi texts and the Buranjis — historical chronicles written by Ahom court scholars.

Bengali

Bengali, spoken by over 230 million people, is one of the most widely spoken languages in India. Its literary heritage includes the works of Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, and the rich tradition of Baul poetry.

Preserving Linguistic Heritage

Officials say the move is part of a broader effort to protect India's linguistic diversity. The Ministry of Culture has been working with state governments and academic institutions to document and digitise classical texts.

The government has also announced that each newly designated classical language will receive a Centre of Excellence for research. These centres will focus on epigraphy, manuscript preservation, and translation projects.

Critics have questioned whether the classical tag alone can reverse the decline of languages like Pali and Prakrit, which have few native speakers today. However, supporters argue that academic attention and funding can revitalise interest in these ancient tongues.

The inclusion of Assamese and Bengali also addresses long-standing demands from cultural groups in the Northeast and East India. Both languages have active literary movements that have campaigned for official recognition.

With these additions, India now recognises 11 classical languages — the highest number for any country in the world. The government has indicated it will consider further applications based on linguistic and historical evidence.