October 3, 2024 will go down in the history of Assamese language as a red- letter day for its official recognition as a Classical Language, bringing to a glorious end a four-year effort by the Government of Assam to achieve the feat. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, formally approved this recognition, fulfilling the long-standing aspirations of the people of Assam. The announcement has sparked immense joy across the State, thanks to the relentless efforts of many individuals.
To celebrate this historic achievement, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma declared a Statewide ‘Bhasha Gaurav Saptah’ from November 3-9. This event coincided with the momentous recognition of the Assamese language, and was organised to express gratitude to Prime Minister Modi, as well as to scholars, linguists and practitioners of the language whose contribution made it possible.
As part of the week-long programme, various discussions, events, and initiatives were held to promote the Assamese language, along with the State’s diverse tribal languages and vibrant cultures.
The Prime Minister expressed his delight on X, stating, “I am immensely pleased that Assamese will now be recognized as a Classical Language following the Union Cabinet’s approval. Assamese culture has thrived for centuries, contributing to a rich literary tradition. May this language continue to gain popularity in the future. My heartfelt congratulations.”
Dr Sarma in his X handle expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister thus, “This exemplifies the unique civilizational roots of Assam, which have withstood the test of time. With today’s decision, we will be able to better preserve our beloved mother tongue, which not only unites our society but also forms an unbroken link to the ancient wisdom of Assam’s saints, thinkers, writers, and philosophers.”
Back in 2020, the process was initiated by the then Education Minister of the State, and the present Chief Minister.
State Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu noted in a post on X, “The journey began under HCM’s tenure as Education Minister when he tasked the Assam Publication Board with preparing a report on the language’s antiquity and uniqueness.
Dr Bhaskarjyoti Sarma, Associate Professor in the Department of Language and Linguistics at the Anundoram Borooah Institute of Language, Art and Culture (ABILAC) and a member of the document preparation committee, said, “In this prosperous journey that began in 2020, we were guided by the renowned linguist from Odisha, Debi Prasanna Pattanayak, who provided invaluable support throughout.”
Dr Mridul Bordoloi, another committee member and a Professor & HoD in the Department of English at Dibrugarh University, remarked, “With this recognition, the Assamese language has reached new horizons. This will provide fresh impetus for establishing centres of excellence, facilitating language study and research including the establishment of chairs in Central universities, international awards, etc.
Eminent litterateur Yeshe Dorjee Thongchi, too, was delighted. He said “This acknowledgement is a blessing for the field of Assamese language & literature. We hope that the Assamese language and literature will serve as the foundation for new creative endeavours. The responsibility to practise and promote the language now rests on all of us, and we must strive to strengthen it.”
Pawan Daimary, a research scholar in the Assamese Department at Gauhati University, pointed out, “The Assamese language has a long and rich history. With this new recognition, we will adopt a fresh approach to teaching the subject in educational institutions. People from other parts of India and abroad will now get to know more about our heritage. However, we must not be complacent with this recognition alone; there is much more to be done to secure the future of our language. I believe everyone should take equal responsibility for promoting the Assamese language at all levels of society.”
For Classical Language status, a language must have a recorded history of high antiquity, typically spanning over 1500 to 2000 years.
Currently, 11 languages have been recognized as Classical Languages. The previously recognized languages are Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia. The new languages recognized as classical on October 3 are Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali.
