Classical language status will boost education, research in Marathi: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Maharashtra visit on Saturday said that the classical language status will boost research and education in Marathi reported the PTIPM Modi on Saturday inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of several projects worth more than Rs 32000 crore in MaharashtraAddressing a function in Mumbai two days after the Union Cabinet approved the classical language tag for Marathi and four other languages Modi said it was a golden moment for the Marathi languageMarathi is a historical language whose knowledge sources have guided several generations The Marathi language showcased literature religion social reforms the freedom movement etc over the years The culture history literature and folk art are linked to the language the prime minister said according to the PTIPM Modi said that the classical language status would help boost research and education in the Marathi language and appealed to Marathi speakers to ensure that the language reaches a global audienceThe Prime Minister emphasised that the Union government always encouraged imparting education in the mother tongueAs per the National Education Policy medical and engineering studies can be pursued in the Marathi language he added as per the PTIPM Modi said that the Bharatiya Janata Party BJP led government at the Centre ensured that the operative part in court judgements is given in the mother tongueLanguage should be the vehicle of ideas he said the news agency reported on SatutrdayNoting that translations can break the language barrier PM Modi proposed using technology to popularise the Indian languages in the worldIt is the responsibility of every Marathispeaking person to contribute to developing the language PM Modi addedSo far India has six classical languages Tamil Sanskrit Telugu Kannada Malayalam and OdiaAfter a language is notified as a classical language the Union Education Ministry provides certain benefits for its promotion which include two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in the said languagesAn official statement had on Thursday had said that the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Modi has approved to confer the status of classical language to MarathiClassical languages serve as a custodian of Bharatrsquos profound and ancient cultural heritage embodying the essence of each communityrsquos historical and cultural milestone it saidThe statement said that a proposal from the Maharashtra Government in 2013 was received in the Ministry requesting Classical Language status to Marathi which was forwarded to the Linguistics Experts Committee LECThe LEC recommended Marathi for classical language and during the interministerial consultations on the draft note for cabinet in 2017 for conferring classical status to the Marathi language MHA advised to revise the criteria and make it stricter The PMO vide its comment stated that the Ministry may conduct an exercise to find out how many other languages are likely to become eligiblewith PTI inputs