Mumbai: Following the central government's decision to grant classical language status to Marathi and four other languages, NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar expressed gratitude and highlighted the significance of this recognition for the promotion and development of Marathi.

During a press conference on Friday, Pawar emphasized that it was crucial for Marathi, along with Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali, to be acknowledged as elite languages. He mentioned that politicians, officials from the Marathi Sahitya Parishad, and various litterateurs had long advocated for this recognition.

Pawar noted that although the decision came a little late, it was still an important step forward. He expressed optimism about the benefits this status would bring for Marathi's growth and cultural promotion.

"Marathi is one of the five languages that have been given elite language status. This is vital for the development of Marathi and other languages. Numerous individuals, including politicians and literary figures, were involved in pushing for this recognition for a long time," said Pawar.

"The decision may have taken time, but what matters is that it has been made, and it will undoubtedly contribute to the advancement of Marathi. I extend my thanks to the central government for this," Pawar added.

On Thursday, the Union Cabinet approved classical language status for Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali. The concept of a classical language category was introduced by the Government of India in 2004, with Tamil being the first to receive this status.

The criteria for a classical language include having ancient texts or recorded history over a thousand years, a rich literary tradition that holds significance for generations of speakers, and an original body of literature not derived from other speech communities.

The Government of India has previously conferred classical language status to Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu (2008), Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013), and Odia (2014).

Punjab Cabinet Reshuffle: CM Bhagwant Mann Removes OSD Onkar Singh; More Changes Expected

Delhi Cabinet: Mukesh Ahlawat to be New face, Check other Names in CoM