Why the Marathi language should get Classical Language Status?
The Marathi language has been spoken in Maharashtra and
adjoining regions for the time immemorial. It is evidenced that this language has prominently
been used for independent secular and religious literature since the last 2100
years. The Marathi language fulfills the criteria of classical languages as prescribed
by the central government. The report prepared by the experts was submitted to
the Central Government in the year 2013; however, the demand still is pending.
The following points will clarify the position of
the Marathi language.
1. Marathi
has been evolved independently from local early primordial dialects and is not offshoot
of any other language like Sanskrit. This has been proven beyond doubt by eminent
linguistics like Pandit Hargovind T Seth, J. Bloch, Alfred Woolner and many others.
2. The
evidenced age of Marathi is calculated from the inscriptions. Earliest inscriptions
in Marathi (called as Maharashtri Prakrit) belong to the first century BC.
3. Grammar
of Marathi (Maharashtri Prakrit) “paaad Lakkhan Sutta” was written in 2nd
century BC by famous grammarian Vararuchi.
4. The tradition of independent literature goes back to the first century BC. “Gaha Satsai”, a world-famous collection of anthology compiled by King Hal Satvahana belongs to this
period.
5. The
first epic on Rama’s life “Paumchariya” was written in Maharashtri Prakrit
(today known as Marathi) by Vimal Suri is dated to 4 AD.
6. Marathi
was the official language of the Satvahana dynasty. The subsequent rulers and dynasties
like Yadavas and Shivaji Maharaj followed the tradition uninterruptedly.
7. From the second century BC to this date Maharashtri Prakrit, like a living language, has
flowed to the present times with adjusting with the time. In every century prominent
and independent literary works have been written in the Maharashtri language that
have attracted the attention of the global audience.
8. The
available literature belonging to every century since 2nd century BC
to this date shows the progressive nature of the Marathi language and its uninterrupted
and independent tradition.
From above it will be clear the Marathi Language deserves
to receive the status of the classical language for its being independent and proven
to be having the rich literary tradition of 2200 years.
