Q. Consider the following languages: - Gujarati
- Kannada
- Telugu
Which of the above has/have been declared as 'Classical Language/ Languages' by the Government? (UPSC Prelims 2014)
Answer:
2 and 3 only
Notes: The correct answer is
[C] 2 and 3 only. The Government of India currently recognizes several languages as "Classical Languages" based on high antiquity, a valuable body of ancient literature, and an original literary tradition.
- Kannada (Statement 2 – Correct): It was officially declared a Classical Language in 2008. It has a documented history of over 1,500 years and a rich literary heritage beginning with works like the Kavirajamarga.
- Telugu (Statement 3 – Correct): It was also declared a Classical Language in 2008 alongside Kannada. It possesses a vast and ancient literary corpus, including early inscriptions and the works of the "Kavitrayam" (Trinity of Poets).
- Gujarati (Statement 1 – Incorrect): While Gujarati is a major Indo-Aryan language with a significant history, it was not included in the list of Classical Languages at the time this question was framed or in the initial years of the designation. (Note: In late 2024, the Union Cabinet approved Classical status for Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali).
The first language to be granted this status was
Tamil (2004), followed by
Sanskrit (2005),
Malayalam (2013), and
Odia (2014). The criteria include a recorded history of 1,500–2,000 years and literature that is deemed a heritage by generations of speakers.