India classical language preservation initiatives

The Indian Ministry of Education has approved the establishment of five Centres of Excellence (CoEs) dedicated to the study, preservation, and digitization of classical languages. These centres are intended to strengthen the institutional ecosystem for advanced academic research, documentation, and the digitization of linguistic and literary heritage.

The designated locations include Tezpur University for Assamese, Visva-Bharati University for Bengali, the Central University of Odisha for Pali, the Central University of Gujarat for Prakrit, and the Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute in Pune for Marathi. The primary objectives of these centres are to provide platforms for scholarly research, support the preservation of ancient textual resources, facilitate the dissemination of knowledge traditions, and strengthen regional academic ecosystems.

In response to these developments, the Maharashtra government is implementing specific initiatives to promote the Marathi language. Following its designation as a classical language, a Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Marathi Language will be established at the Deccan College in Pune with central funding.

Furthermore, Maharashtra plans to establish independent Marathi Language Departments within district collector offices, led by Class-I Marathi Language Officers. The state also intends to publish dictionaries for 100 Marathi dialects and host various literary conferences and workshops to support linguistic preservation.