New Delhi, October 5 (IANS). Members of the Bhikkhu Sangha on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed gratitude to him for the central government’s decision to include Pali as a ‘classical language’. During this, Buddhist leaders also recited some verses in Pali to PM Modi.
PM Modi wrote on social media platform Recalled the close relationship between the Pali language and expressed hope that in the times to come, more and more youth would acquire knowledge about the Pali language.
Pali language is a sacred language for Buddhists. It is the language of the Theravada Buddhist scriptures, known as the Pali Canon. It contains the main teachings of the Buddha. It connects the followers of Buddhism to its historical roots. This gives them an understanding of key concepts like impermanence, suffering and the self.
The Buddha used Pali to deliver his sermons and his followers used it to spread his teachings around the world.
Let us tell you that, on October 3, the Union Cabinet gave the status of ‘classical languages’ to Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali languages. With this there are now 11 classical languages. PM Modi has congratulated five languages on being given the status of classical languages.
The Government of India introduced the “Classical Language” category on October 12, 2004, declaring Tamil as the first classical language.
–IANS
AKS/CBT
