GUWAHATI, Oct 3: The Union Ministry of Education has approved five Centres of Excellence for the study of classical languages, including a Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Assamese at Tezpur University in Assam.
The approval was conveyed through an office memorandum issued on October 1 by the Language Division of the Department of Higher Education. The other centres will focus on Classical Bengali, Classical Marathi, Classical Pali and Classical Prakrit.
The centres will work towards strengthening academic research, digitisation, preservation and dissemination of the linguistic and literary heritage associated with the five classical languages.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state government had been pursuing a dedicated centre for Assamese following its recognition as a classical language.
He said the centre at Tezpur University would create opportunities for extensive research on Assamese and support the digital preservation of manuscripts and other literary heritage.
The Chief Minister said the initiative would also strengthen efforts to preserve and promote Assamese language and literature among younger generations.
Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit were granted classical language status by the Union Cabinet in October 2024. The five Centres of Excellence approved by the Education Ministry correspond to these languages.
