The Union Minister of Education recently shared information in the Lok Sabha regarding the steps taken by the government to promote the Eight Schedule languages. This article aims to provide a detailed insight into this subject matter.
Eighth Schedule: An Overview
The Eighth Schedule, a part of the Indian Constitution under Part XVII, lists the official languages of the Republic of India, as detailed in Articles 343 to 351. The schedule plays a significant role in safeguarding linguistic diversity and ensuring proper communication across the nation’s diverse regions.
Constitutional Provisions Related to the Eighth Schedule
Two key articles in the Indian Constitution cover provisions related to the Eighth Schedule. Article 344(1) entails the constitution of a Commission by the President every five years from the commencement of the Constitution. Meanwhile, Article 351 focuses on promoting the Hindi language to serve as a medium of expression for India’s composite culture.
Though these provisions exist, no fixed criteria determine which languages qualify for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule.
The Official Languages Under the Eighth Schedule
Currently, the Eighth Schedule includes 22 languages – Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili, and Dogri. Although the Constitution initially listed only 14 languages, over time, amendments have introduced new names to the list.
Classical Languages of India
At present, six languages enjoy the status of ‘Classical’ languages in India – Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia. These languages fall under the Eighth Schedule and carry a rich heritage that has passed down generations.
The Ministry of Culture provides specific guidelines for a language to earn the Classical tag, based on antiquity, literature tradition, and distinctiveness from its modern form.
Benefits Associated with Promotion of Classical Languages
Giving a language the status of ‘Classical’ can bring several advantages. The Human Resource and Development Ministry offers benefits to promote these languages, including international awards for scholars, setting up Centres of Excellence for Classical Languages studies, and requesting the University Grants Commission to establish Professional Chairs for these languages in Central Universities.
The government’s initiative to promote the Eight Schedule and Classical Languages aims at preserving India’s linguistic diversity and rich cultural heritage. It also strives to ensure that these languages continue to be mediums of communication and expression across the country.