Assam CM Celebrates Assamese as a Classical Language

By A Staff Reporter

In Ranchi, Jharkhand, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his gratitude following the Union Cabinet's approval of Assamese, along with four other languages, as a classical language. He referred to this decision as a "big gift to Assam" and a proud moment in the state's linguistic history.

Sarma addressed the historical debate regarding the origins of the Assamese language, which has been intertwined with the Bengali language for centuries. He noted, "For centuries, there has been this debate if the Assamese language was born out of the Bengali language - it had induced many linguistic movements in the past in Assam." The CM emphasized that the cabinet's recognition of both Assamese and Bengali as classical languages affirms their distinct identities, stating, "It means that both these languages are different, and one can trace the antiquities of both languages up to 2000 years back."

He hailed the decision as one of the biggest achievements of his political life and thanked Prime Minister Modi on behalf of the people of Assam. The classification of Assamese as a classical language is expected to enhance its cultural status and promote its preservation and development in the years to come.