Classical Language in India

The Union Cabinet today approved classifying Malayalam as a ‘Classical Language’ 
The benefits which are extended to Classical Languages include the following :-

i) Two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in classical Indian languages.

ii) A ‘Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Languages be set up.

iii) The University Grants Commission be requested to create, to start with at least in the Central Universities, a certain number of Professional Chairs for Classical Languages for scholars of eminence in classical Indian languages.

The Government has earlier notified both Telugu and Kannada as Classical Languages. Tamil was the First Language to be declared as 'Classical'

The criteria for determining classical status are therefore derived from Greek and Latin literature and are not based on any independent design. The characteristics of Greek and Latin literature, by and large, are: Antiquity, Harmony, Clarity, Restraint, Serenity, Idealism, Universality, Reason, Order and Humanism.

The Sahitya Akademi's expert committee mentioned four criteria for a classical language. One is the high antiquity of early texts/recorded history of over 1500 to 2000 years. The second is a body of ancient literature/texts that is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers. The third criterion is that the literary tradition should be original and not borrowed from another speech community. Fourthly, the classical language and literature should be distinct from the modern, and there may also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or offshoots.

 At present , there are six Language are notified as Classical Language – Tamil ,  Pali , Sansktit ,  Telagu , Kannada & Malyalam