In a landmark recognition for Assam’s linguistic and cultural heritage, the Indian government has officially granted classical language status to the Assamese language. Union Home Minister Amit Shah took to Twitter to congratulate the people of Assam on this historic achievement.
Shah expressed his sentiments, stating, “The Assamese language, enriched with a vibrant structure of literature and an endless treasure of words, is renowned for its resilience. Today, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to my Assamese brothers and sisters on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s decision to honor Assamese as a classical language.” He further celebrated the announcement by tweeting in Assamese, emphasizing the depth and beauty of the language: “সাহিত্যৰ এক স্পন্দনশীল কাঠামো আৰু অফুৰন্ত শব্দৰ ভঁৰালেৰে সমৃদ্ধ অসমীয়া ভাষা…”
In response, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed profound gratitude, tweeting, “Endless thanks and gratitude to the Honorable Union Home Minister. The people of Assam are grateful today for this historic decision.” He added in Assamese, “এই ঐতিহাসিক সিদ্ধান্তৰ বাবে আজি অসমবাসী ধন্য৷”
On October 3, Prime Minister Modi’s cabinet approved the designation of Assamese as a classical language, joining the ranks of Bengali, Marathi, Pali, and Prakrit, which underscores India’s rich linguistic diversity. PM Modi also celebrated this decision, noting the significant contributions of Assamese culture to India’s literary legacy.
