Inscription on the Taj Mahal written in Farsi. (Photo via X/@anony_idiot)
New Delhi: India said it would include Farsi (Persian) as one of the nine classical languages in the country under the New Education Policy. This decision aims to deepen cultural ties and recognizes the cultural, literary, and linguistic connections between Iran and India.
The announcement was made by the foreign minister, S Jaishankar, during his two-day visit to Iran, on Monday. He highlighted the cultural, literary, and linguistic connections between Iran and India and said that this recognition reflects a commitment to fostering greater understanding and appreciation of Farsi’s rich heritage within the Indian educational framework.
India’s National Education Policy – 2020 states: “In addition to these classical languages Pali, Persian, and Prakrit; and their works of literature too must be preserved for their richness and for the pleasure and enrichment of posterity.”
It may be noted that Farsi was the official language of most of the kingdoms, especially in the north of the subcontinent during the Mughal era, including the Mughal courts. Many Hindu kings’ courts also used Farsi as their official language. It was also the language of choice for many well-known writers and poets during that period.
Tamil was the first language in India to be accorded classical language status in 2004. Subsequently, Sanskrit, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia have also been declared classical languages by the Union education ministry.
The decision to include Farsi as a classical language in India has been welcomed by many. It is expected to deepen cultural ties between India and Iran and foster greater understanding and appreciation of Farsi’s rich heritage within the Indian educational framework.
The move is also expected to strengthen people-to-people contacts and the profound cultural, literary, and linguistic ties that unite the two nations.
