The Maharshi Badrayan Vyas Samman, a prestigious award formulated by the Indian Government, has been bestowed upon selected scholars for the year 2019 by the President of India. The award recognises and honours young scholars, aged between 30 and 45 years, for their significant contributions to the field of Persian, Arabic, Pali, Prakrit, and Classical Indian languages.
Brief on Maharshi Badrayan Vyas Samman
The Maharshi Badrayan Vyas Samman was established by the Government of India with the explicit intention of acknowledging young scholars who have displayed exemplary work in the field of certain specific languages. These languages include Persian, Arabic, Pali, Prakrit, and Classical Indian languages such as Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Odia. The main objective of this award is to encourage and reward young talent that contributes significantly to the preservation and growth of these languages.
Classical Languages of India
The Government of India recognises the importance of certain languages and deems them as classical languages. Six languages have been given this status, namely Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia. The acceptance of a language as classical assumes significant importance as it not only acknowledges its rich historical presence but also encourages further development and understanding of the language within the community.
Criteria for Declaring a Language as Classical
The Government of India has set certain criteria which determine the declaration of a language as a Classical language:
| Criterion |
|---|
| High antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years. |
| A body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers. |
| The literary tradition is original and not borrowed from another speech community. |
| The classical language and literature being distinct from modern, there may also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots. |
Acknowledgement of Scholars’ Contribution
The Maharshi Badrayan Vyas Samman recognises the commendable work of young scholars in the field of these languages. This award stimulates further research, understanding, and preservation of these languages which are considered a part of our rich heritage. The President of India acknowledges these contributions and rewards them with this prestigious award every year.