The Hindu : Kerala News : Efforts for classical language tag to Malayalam get a boost

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Wednesday, Dec 03, 2008
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Kerala

Efforts for classical language tag to Malayalam get a boost

Special Correspondent

Rajya Sabha asks Culture Ministry to furnish its comments

Decision based on Baby’s article in The Hindu
Education Department to form expert panel

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government’s efforts to secure ‘classical language’ status for Malayalam have received a shot in the arm with the Rajya Sabha Secretariat asking the Ministry of Culture to furnish its comments on the subject.

The Rajya Sabha Secretariat has sought the Ministry’s views on the basis of an article written by Education Minister M. A. Baby in T he Hindu presenting Malayalam’s case for recognition as a ‘classical language.’ The Ministry of Culture has been asked to furnish comments on the points raised in the article by Mr. Baby for the consideration of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture. The Ministry has been asked to furnish the comments latest by December 12.

Equal treatment

The demand for ‘classical language’ status for Malayalam had gained momentum with the Centre deciding to accord the status to Telugu and Kannada, which are considered to be sister languages of Malayalam, a few weeks ago.

In his article, published in the editorial page of The Hindu on November 26, Mr. Baby had contended that, viewed from any perspective, Malayalam deserves equal treatment with its sister languages of the family. He had sought formation of a committee of experts by the Centre to examine the claim.

Meanwhile, according to highly placed sources in the State government, the Education Department is going ahead with the decision to constitute an expert committee at the State level to prepare Malayalam’s case.

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