If granted classical status, Kannada, the 27th most spoken language in the world, will be the third after Sanskrit and Tamil, to be thus recognised in the country.
BANGALORE: Kannada may soon be accorded classical status. A committee of the ministry of culture will meet presently to take forward the recommendation made by the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) on the issue seven months ago.
If granted classical status, Kannada, the 27th most spoken language in the world, will be the third after Sanskrit and Tamil, to be thus recognised in the country.
The ministry had asked for a report from CIIL in March last year. “We embarked on the study in April and sent the report that Kannada meets the requirements of a classical language. It has come late but is happening now,” director of CIIL Udaya Narayana Singh told DNA.
A language has to meet several criteria to be granted the classical status.
First, its antiquity should date beyond 1,500 years. Though Kannada claims to have an antiquity of 2,000 years, the first written record in the Kannada language is traced to Emperor Ashoka’s ‘Brahmagiri’ edict dated 230 BC, that is 1,600 years.
Second, it should have a body of ancient literature considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers. Kannada’s earliest literary work is Amoghavarsha’s ninth century Kavirajamarga, a treatise on verse poetry (Chandassu), considered valuable heritage till date.
Third, the literary tradition has to be original and not borrowed from any other speech community. Kannada is to be influenced by its folk culture.
Fourth, the classical language and literature should be distinct from its current form. Kannada has evolved into poorva halagannada (pre-ancient Kannada), hale Kannada (ancient Kannada), nadu Kannada (medieval) and hosagannada (modern Kannada).
“Once declared a classical language, there will be government funding for conducting research and centres of excellence,” Singh said.
k_bhargavi@dnaindia.net
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