Recognition after deprivation: Mamata Banerjee on Bengali’s classical language tag

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee shared on social media the copy of a letter she sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 11, advocating for Bengali to be granted classical language status. She expressed satisfaction that the long-awaited recognition had been granted after much “deprivation.”
“Here is a copy of my letter (dated January 11, 2024) to the Honourable Prime Minister of India, where I articulated our demand for the central government’s recognition of Bengali as a classical language. Our facts-based, cogent arguments have finally been accepted by the Government of India,” Banerjee tweeted.
In response, BJP leader Amit Malviya accused Banerjee of taking undue credit, stating she failed to push for recognition during her time as an ally of the UPA government and her early years as chief minister.
Malviya highlighted that other languages such as Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, and Odia had received classical status between 2004 and 2014, but Bengali had not.
Earlier on Thursday, Banerjee confirmed the Centre’s acceptance of the state’s research supporting the request, saying, “Bengali has finally been accorded the status of a classical language by the Government of India. We have submitted three volumes of research findings, and today our claim has been accepted. We have reached the cultural apex among Indian languages.”