In a landmark decision, the government of India, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has officially recognized Pali as a classical language of the nation. The announcement on 3 October, which also includes Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, and Prakrit, has been welcomed by scholars, historians, and the Buddhist community for its acknowledgment of Pali’s impact on the cultural and religious heritage of India and beyond.

Pali, often regarded as the language of the Buddha’s teachings (buddhavacana), played a central role in the preservation and dissemination of the ethical, philosophical, and spiritual teachings of the Buddha. Unlike Sanskrit, which was primarily used by Brahminical scholars, Pali served as a more accessible medium for conveying the Buddha’s teachings to the masses. As a result, it became the language of the earliest Buddhist scriptures, the Tipitaka, and is still used in Theravada Buddhism today.

Theravada Buddhism, the oldest and one of the largest schools of Buddhism, continues to use Pali as its liturgical language. The Tipitaka, which literally means “three baskets,” encompasses the Buddha’s teachings on ethics, psychology, and the nature of reality. These texts were transmitted orally for centuries before being written down in Pali in Sri Lanka in the first century BCE. Today, Pali remains a sacred language for Buddhist communities in countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

India’s recognition of Pali as a classical language highlights its historical importance and aligns it with other ancient Indian languages, such as Kannada, Sanskrit, and Tamil, which have shaped India’s civilization. According to the government’s criteria, a language is considered “classical” if it has ancient origins, a rich literary tradition, and has had a significant impact on culture, religion, and social structures over a period of at least 1,500 years.

Minister of parliamentary affairs and minority affairs, Kiren Rijiju, expressed gratitude for the recognition on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Rijiju noted that the decision honored the strong connection between Pali and Buddhism, and encouraged the younger generation to explore its teachings.

Members of the Buddhist community in Mumbai met with prime minister Modi to celebrate the decision, and highlighted the significance of Pali in the spread of Buddhism throughout Asia. Modi acknowledged the monks’ appreciation and expressed confidence that the decision would inspire more young people to study and engage with Pali.

Modi also posted on X, sharing the happiness of the Buddhists he met with photos of himself and the monastics. Modi shared that the monks “recalled the strong connection of Pali with Buddhism and expressed confidence that more youngsters will learn about Pali in the coming times.” (Mathru Bhumi)

Over the past 2,500 years, Pali has extended its influence far beyond India’s borders. During the reign of Emperor Ashoka in the third century BCE, Pali was used to promote Buddhism across Asia, including Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. Ashoka’s son, Mahinda, traveled to Sri Lanka to introduce the Buddha’s teachings, and Pali became the primary language of Sri Lankan Buddhism, ensuring its preservation for more than two millennia. In Southeast Asia, Pali shaped religious practices, monastic education, and meditation traditions, and continues to be the language of religious ceremonies and Buddhist scholarship today.

Assistant professor at the University of Delhi, Chandan Kumar, noted that the recognition of Pali as a classical language would help to preserve and revitalize its study. According to government officials and cultural organizations, the designation was expected to attract greater academic interest and funding for research on Pali texts, translations, and interpretations. Additionally, the move was predicted to foster closer cultural ties between India and Buddhist-majority countries such as Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, where Pali continues to hold religious significance.

Kumar wrote: “By recognizing Pali as a classical language, India acknowledges its rich linguistic and cultural history. Pali has been integral to the development of Buddhism, which is one of India’s greatest spiritual contributions to the world. This recognition is a source of pride for Buddhists in India and around the world, strengthening India’s role as the birthplace of a major world religion.” (IANS Live)

As the language of the Buddha’s words, Pali has had a lasting impact on the philosophical, religious, and linguistic development of much of Asia. Advocates expressed hope that the government of India’s recognition would ensure that Pali’s literary and cultural legacy is preserved for generations to come.

See more

Pali declared as a classical language is celebration of Bharat’s ancient cultural heritage (IANS Live)
Pali officially recognised as classical language: Rijiju thanks Modi (Mathru Bhumi)

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