Assamese Language Receives Official Classical Status

Guwahati: Assam Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah celebrated the official conferment of Classical Language status on Assamese, describing the achievement as a historic milestone for the state. This recognition honors the linguistic and literary heritage of Assam while bolstering initiatives to preserve its cultural identity for future generations.

The inclusion of Assamese brings the total number of languages with this status in India to eleven. Other languages on the list include Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Bengali, Marathi, and Pali. Since 2014, the government has expanded this list from six languages, a move that the minister says demonstrates a national commitment to celebrating diverse traditions.

Drawing on remarks made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Baruah emphasized the significance of linguistic preservation. He stated, "Language is the soul of civilization and culture, with each language carrying its own unique essence and identity." This designation serves as part of a broader effort to reconnect with India's civilizational roots by safeguarding its varied literary traditions.