Tezpur University to House New Classical Assamese Research Centre

Guwahati: The Union Ministry of Education approved the creation of five Centres of Excellence to study classical languages. One of these hubs will operate at Tezpur University in Assam to focus on Classical Assamese. The October 1 memorandum from the Department of Higher Education also greenlit centres for Classical Bengali, Marathi, Pali, and Prakrit.

These centres aim to boost academic research and digitize literary heritage. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma pushed for the facility after the Union Cabinet granted Assamese classical status in October 2024. He confirmed the news on social media. "After our Assamese language received classical language status, we had been informing the Government of India about establishing a special centre for the study, preservation and development of its rich linguistic and literary heritage," Sarma stated.

The university will manage the digital preservation of manuscripts. It aims to connect younger generations with their linguistic roots. Sarma expects the centre to spark new research opportunities and promote heritage conservation. The project serves as a key pillar in the broader national effort to document these five ancient languages.