New Delhi. : Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister for Education, released 55 literary works in classical Indian languages on Tuesday in New Delhi, reinforcing the Government of India’s commitment to preserving and promoting India’s rich linguistic and cultural heritage.

The publications include 41 scholarly books developed by the Centres of Excellence for Classical Languages under the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), along with 13 books and a Tirukkural Sign Language series brought out by the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT).

Celebrating India’s Classical Knowledge Traditions

The released collection spans major classical languages such as Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia, and notably includes an interpretation of the Tirukkural in Indian Sign Language, marking a significant step towards inclusive access to classical literature.

Addressing the gathering, Shri Pradhan said that under the leadership of Narendra Modi, the government has taken sustained efforts to strengthen Indian languages—ranging from expanding the scheduled languages list to translating classical texts and encouraging education in Indian languages.

He emphasised that Indian languages have endured through centuries despite historical challenges and that languages serve as a unifying force, connecting society through shared cultural and intellectual traditions. Reiterating the Prime Minister’s vision, he stated that all Indian languages are national languages.

Inclusive Vision and NEP 2020

Highlighting the Tirukkural’s inclusion in Sign Language, Shri Pradhan said the initiative reflects the vision of an inclusive India, ensuring that knowledge reaches all sections of society. He added that this effort is a meaningful contribution to India’s intellectual and literary ecosystem.

The Minister further noted that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 strongly advances education in Indian languages and reflects India’s civilisational ethos of unity in diversity, in contrast to the colonial-era Macaulay mindset. According to him, Indian civilisation has always viewed languages as bridges for dialogue and cultural harmony.

Dignitaries Present

The event was attended by Shri Vineet Joshi, Secretary (Higher Education), Ministry of Education; Shri Chamu Krishna Shastry, Chairman, Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti; Prof. Shailendra Mohan, Director, CIIL; Prof. R. Chandrasekaran, Director, CICT; Ms. Manmohan Kaur, Advisor (Cost), along with senior officials of the Ministry of Education.

Shri Pradhan congratulated the Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti, CIIL, CICT, and the Centres of Excellence for their sustained efforts in promoting and preserving India’s linguistic heritage.

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