India’s Vast Linguistic Heritage India is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world, with an astounding 121 languages and over 19,500 dialects spoken across its regions. This extraordinary variety represents not only India’s cultural richness but also its historical depth. Yet, only a select few languages have been granted the prestigious status of “classical language”—a recognition that acknowledges their historical, cultural, and literary importance. On Thursday, the Union Cabinet made a landmark decision by conferring the status of “classical language” to five more Indian languages: Marathi, Bengali,…
The Linguistic Grandeur of India: Celebrating the New Classical Languages
