Question : RECOGNITION OF CLASSICAL LANGUAGES

(a) whether the Government has decided to create a new category of languages as classical language;

(b) if so, the criterion adopted by the Government for the recognition of Classical Language;

(c) the names of the Languages which are recognized as classical languages as on date;

(d) whether the Government has made any changes to the criteria adopted for selection of classical language after recognizing some languages;

(e) if so, the details and the reasons therefor;

(f) whether the Government has received any request from States for recognizing of languages as classical languages during each of the last three years; and

(g) if so, the details thereof State-wise and the action taken thereon?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI SRIPRAKASH JAISWAL)

(a) & (b): The Government created a new category of languages as `Classical Language` and the following criteria have been laid down for according classical status to a language:-

(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 valuable heritage by generations of speakers.

(iii) The literary tradition be original and not borrowed from another speech community.

(iv) The classical language and literature being distinct from modern, there may also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots.

(c): Tamil and Sanskrit have so far been notified as Classical Languages.

(d): Yes, Sir.

L.S.U.S.Q.NO.4894 FOR 23.05.2006

(e): The Government amended part
(i) of the criteria i.e. High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a thousand years to read as `High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years.` This amendment was made as an important shared feature of languages like Sanskrit, Latin and Greek etc. that are universally recognized as Classical Languages is that they have early texts/recorded history dating back to 1500-2000 years.

(f) & (g): the requests for recognizing the following languages as Classical Languages were received during the last three years i.e. 2003, 2004 and 2005:-

Year	Name of Language	Name of State
2003	Tamil	Tamil Nadu & Pondicherry
2004	Tamil	Kannada	Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand	Karnataka
2005	Kannada	Karnataka