New Classical languages in India - Now Telugu & Kannada get added, Malayalam wants to join.

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http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Four-year+struggle+comes+good+for+the+State&artid=J4jpUjcSyAQ=&SectionID=7GUA38txp3s=&MainSectionID=fyV9T2jIa4A=&SectionName=zkvyRoWGpmWSxZV2TGM5XQ==&SEO=

Four-year struggle comes good for the State


Express News Service First Published : 01 Nov 2008 09:18:00 AM ISTLast
Updated : 01 Nov 2008 02:16:15 PM IST

BANGALORE: On Rajyotsava eve, Kannadigas had a great reason to cheer
and heave a sigh of relief. For, the Centre accorded classical
language status to it, thus fulfilling a four-year-long demand.


Telugu has also been conferred the classical language status. With
this the number of languages with classical tag has gone up to four.
Sanskrit and Tamil are the other two languages to have got such a
status.

The decision to accord classical status to Kannada came at a time when
Kannadigas were least expecting it. In fact, preparations were on by
the state government to stage a protest in Delhi on November 5
demanding classical status to Kannada.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and his cabinet colleagues were
supposed to lead the protest.

Expressing happiness over the decision of the Centre, Yeddyurappa
thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for taking personal interest to
give Kannada the classical language status. “I thank you on behalf of
six crore Kannadigas on this occasion,” the CM said, while instructing
the district and taluk administrations to celebrate Rajyotsava on a
grand scale.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Mallikarjun Kharge termed it
a remarkable victory for Kannadigas. The Centre has taken a timely
decision, he added.

The demand for classical status for Kannada was first mooted in 2004,
the year when Tamil got such a status. Kannada writers argued that
Kannada should also be given the classical tag as it was as old and
rich as Tamil.

But Tamil Nadu using its clout, had allegedly prevailed upon the
Centre and got the rules that govern the granting of the status
amended, to stop any other language from getting such a status.

“Earlier, any language which is over 1,000 years of history would have
been considered for classical status. But Tamil Nadu made the Centre
change the age criterion of a classical language to 1,500 years.

This was done only to prevent Kannada and Telugu from getting such a
status,” said Kannada Development Authority Chairman Mukhyamantri
Chandru.

Meanwhile, the movement for classical status started gaining momentum
in the state with noted writers like De Javare Gowda, researcher
Chidanand Murthy, Prof G S Shivarudrappa and others taking to the
streets.

Several Kannada organisations also joined the chorus, mounting
pressure on the Centre.

As a result, the Centre had set up an expert committee to look into
such claims. The committee after verifying relevant documents said
that both Kannada and Telugu can be given classical status.

But before the Centre could act on this, a lawyer from from Chennai
filed a petition in the Chennai High Court questioning the very
authority of the expert committee. Enraged by this, Kannada activists
countered the move by filing a writ petition seeking dismissal of the
original petition.

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http://www.zeenews.com/States/2008-11-01/480313news.html

Kerala’s CM resents sparing Malayalam of "classical" status

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 01: Kerala’s Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan
on Saturday took strong exception to the Centre's leaving Malayalam
out of the classical language status given to other South Indian
languages.

Malayalam was the only language of the Dravidian linguistic family
which had not been given the status of "classical language" after
Kannada and Telugu were included in this category, he said while
inaugurating the Malayalam Day celebrations on the occasion of the
state-formation day today.

Those languages receiving the classical status would be entitled for
central funds for studies and researches. Malayalam fully deserved
this kind of support, he said.

Setting up a dedicated university for the studies in Malayalam
language and Kerala culture was under active consideration of the
government, he said

Bureau Report.
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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Telugu_Kannada_get_classical_tag/articleshow/3660666.cms

Telugu, Kannada get classical tag

NEW DELHI: Politics had the last word as despite serious differences
within
the

expert group, culture ministry on Friday said Telugu and Kannada have
been
given status of classical language. A source in the expert group said,
"It
was
a
forced decision."

In a hurriedly convened press conference, culture minister Ambika Soni
said
decision has been taken on the recommendation of committee of
linguistic
experts. The formal declaration would take place on the occasion of
the
Rajyotsava day in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh formation day that
falls on
November 1. However, the decision is subject to the outcome of
a pending writ petition in Madras high court.

Decision to grant classical status has come after pressure from
politicians
of
Karnataka and AP. PM's Office had refused to get involved into the
emotive
issue. Asked for guidance by the culture ministry, PMO said experts
group view
would be final. A source in the expert group pointed out how VC
Kulandai
Swamy, a member of the committee, strongly argued that both the
languages did not fulfill criterion of antiquity set by the
government.

Both the languages have failed on other criterion also. These include:
a body
of ancient literature which is considered a valuable heritage,
literary
tradition be original and not borrowed from another speech community
and
that classical language should be distinct from its modern form.

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http://www.telegraphindia.com/1081101/jsp/nation/story_10047246.jsp

"But the drive for the classical label had been matter of political
pride,
rather
than a linguistic issue, which raises the possibility of more states
placing
similar demands."