Classical Languages: How Do Ancient Tongues Benefit People?

Classical Languages of India – A modern girl embraces tradition through reading, surrounded by the timeless expressions of Kathakali, Bharatanatyam, Kalaripayattu, and Sanskrit heritage.

What are the Classical Languages that Reflect India's Linguistic Heritage?

India is an abode to many languages, customs, and cultures. The ancient languages recognized by the Government of India are wonders that reflect the linguistic wealth of the country. Each of these languages has a unique history, literature, and science. These languages have been recognized for centuries and have retained their importance even in the most modern society. Languages like Tamil, Telugu, Sanskrit, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia have been declared as ancient languages by the Government of India. In this article, you will learn extensively about their history, recognition, authenticity, and educational opportunities based on them.

Families of Indian Classical Languages

Language Family	Languages
Indo-Aryan Family	Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Oriya (Odia), Punjabi, Urdu
Dravidian Family	Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam
Tibeto-Burman Family	Manipuri, Meithei, Himalayish

What are the ancient Indian languages?

The Government of India has recognized some languages as Classical Languages of India because of their ancient history, wonderful literature, and independent linguistic wealth.

• The Government of India has set four important criteria for recognition as an ancient language, namely, the language must have developed independently, have ancient literature, and not be the language of the common people.

• Currently, Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia are the languages that have received this recognition.

• This recognition leads to the allocation of special funds for education, research, and language preservation.

• These languages play a crucial role in passing on ancient texts to future generations.

What is the first ancient Indian language to be recognized?

Tamil language became the first language in India to be recognized as a Classical Language. It has a literary heritage dating back almost 2000 years.

• Tamil belongs to the Dravidian language family and is one of the oldest spoken languages in India and the world.

• The 'Sangam literature' is considered to be the most important in early literature.

• Tamil was recognized by the Government as a Classical Language in 2004-the first Indian language to meet the standards.

• The ancient linguistic structure, grammar, and vocabulary of the Tamil language are very deep..

Classical Languages of India – Celebrating cultural legacy with an elderly man reading in a native script, the sunrise of wisdom, national pride, and Kerala’s martial traditions.

Which is the Root Language of India?

Sanskrit is recognized as the ancient language that has been the root of many later Indian languages. It stands as the epitome of classical literature.

• The Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, and Itihasas are all written in Sanskrit.

• Sanskrit has a rich phonology as well as the basis for mathematics, philosophy, and Vedic sciences.

• The language is used as a connecting bridge between the ancient culture of India and the modern scientific world.

• The Indian government recognized Sanskrit as a Classical Language in the year 2005.

Which is the mother tongue of Andhra Pradesh?

Telugu is considered a classical Dravidian language that developed from Prakrit roots, along with ancient literary treasures.

• Telugu has stories, inscriptions, and writings dating back at least 1000 years.

• The literature of ancient poets Nannayya, Thikkanna, and Errapragada has given this language its uniqueness.

• Telugu language received Classical Status in 2008, which is a source of pride for the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

• Telugu has unique grammatical principles.

Classical Languages and Years of Recognition

Language	Year	Key Highlights
Tamil	2004	Over 2000 years of Sangam literature, the first language to gain classical status.
Sanskrit	2005	Language of Vedas and epics; core of Indian philosophy, religion, and science.
Telugu	2008	Dravidian language from Andhra and Telangana with vast medieval literature.
Kannada	2008	Rich 5th-century roots; inscriptions and classical literature from Karnataka.
Malayalam	2013	Literary language of Kerala evolved with heavy Sanskrit influence.
Odia	2014	Indo-Aryan language with 10th-century roots and classical poetic tradition.
Marathi	2024*	Evolved from Maharashtri Prakrit; inscriptions from the 1st century BCE.
Pali	2024*	Language of Buddhist texts; used in rituals in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand.
Assamese	2024*	Evolved from Magadhi Prakrit; literary tradition from the 6th century onwards.
Prakrit	2024*	Group of Indo-Aryan languages used in Jain texts and early Indian poetry.
Bengali	2024*	Magadhi Prakrit origin; literary legacy from the 6th century; spoken in Bengal.

*2024 - Based on recent announcements. Formal Gazette notification awaited

Which is a scientifically recognized Dravidian language?

Kannada language is recognized as an ancient language based on inscriptions dating back about 1500 years. It is firmly fit in the Dravidian language family.

• The history of the Kannada language can be traced back to the 5th century based on the script.

• Scientific works and literature related to the 9th century are available in this language.

• The Government of India recognized Kannada as a Classical Language in 2008.

• Devotional poets and lyrical works occupy a special place in Kannada literature.

Which is the mother tongue of Kerala?

Malayalam has developed into a distinct language with Dravidian roots and Sanskrit scholarship. It is popular in Kerala.

• The language is believed to have been in use since the 9th century, based on inscriptions.

• Malayalam is rich in Sanskrit words, which gives it a unique style.

• In 2013, the Government of India declared Malayalam a Classical Language.

• Ancient texts, epics, and devotional poetry are prominent in this language.

Ancient Telugu Glory – Telugu Museum highlights the classical script, with a Kuchipudi dancer over the united Andhra Pradesh map and a cartoon reading, symbolizing cultural continuity.

Which is the ancient East Indian language?

Odia is also an ancient language of East India, identified due to inscriptions/writings from the 10th century. It is unique in the evolution of Indian languages.

• Inscriptions and texts in the Odia language date back to the ancient Gupta dynasty.

• Odia poets like Jayadev and Saraladas carried devotional and romantic literature to light.

• In 2014, Odia was given Classical Status, which is considered essential for the evolution of the country's language.

• This language has a unique script and style.

FAQs – Classical Languages in India

Q1. What are the criteria for being recognized as a Classical Language?
A1. The language should have an ancient history, ancient literature, influence modern languages, and develop independently as an ancient language.

Q2. What are the benefits of being recognized as a Classical Language?
A2. A center can be set up for research, educational funding can be obtained, opportunities to preserve literature can be created, and recognition can be gained at the international level.

Q3. How many Classical Languages are there in India?
A3. So far, the Indian government has recognized six languages as Classical Status: Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia.

Q4. Are there any online courses to learn Classical Languages?
A4. Many online platforms teach these languages for free or on a paid basis. You can check out these on the Coursera, SWAYAM, and IGNOU platforms.

Q5. What are the career opportunities related to Classical Languages?
A5. There are job opportunities with Classical Languages in various fields like teaching, research positions, translation, and analysis of ancient texts.

Classical Languages of Pride – A white India map marks the timeless heritage of Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia, celebrating India’s linguistic legacy.

Conclusion

When we hear the term Classical Languages of India, it not only comes to mind about languages, but also about the soul, knowledge, religion, and science of Indian society. These languages reflect how Indians have thought and lived for centuries. Preserving these languages means preserving our roots and providing a valuable spiritual and literary foundation for future generations. Every Indian should respect the greatness of these languages and increase the enthusiasm to learn them. This recognition by the Government of India should serve as a guide for future generations.

Online Courses, Reference Books, & Websites

Category	Resources
Online Courses	SWAYAM – Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu modules Coursera – Ancient Indian Literature Class Central – Language & Culture Courses
Reference Books	“A History of Classical Sanskrit Literature” – M. Krishnamachariar “Telugu Literature” – Dr. V. Raghavan “Tamil: A Biography” – David Shulman
Websites	Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org Digital South Asia Library – dsal.uchicago.edu CIIL Mysore – www.ciil.org