TAG: GS 1: ART AND CULTURE
THE CONTEXT: The Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA), an autonomous body under the Union Culture Ministry, is set to embark on a comprehensive linguistic survey across India.
EXPLANATION:
- The primary objective is to create a ‘Language Atlas’ that will shed light on the extensive linguistic diversity existing in the country.
- As India emphasizes education in mother tongues, particularly at the primary level, the actual number of “active” languages in the country remains a pivotal question.
- The linguistic survey proposed by IGNCA aims to fill this knowledge gap by providing a detailed account of languages spoken and their distribution across states and regions.
- India officially recognizes 22 languages, as outlined in Schedule 8 of the Indian Constitution.
- Census data indicates that 97% of the population speaks one of these officially recognized languages.
- However, an additional 99 non-scheduled languages, identified by around 37.8 million people as their mother tongue, are not included in the official count due to the exclusion of languages with fewer than 10,000 speakers since 1971.
- The decision to exclude languages with fewer than 10,000 speakers has left the native languages of 1.2 million people unaccounted for, with many of these languages being spoken by tribal communities.
- The linguistic survey seeks to address this gap in data, providing a more inclusive representation of India’s linguistic landscape.
Urgent Need for a Comprehensive Linguistic Survey
- The last comprehensive linguistic survey was conducted during the 1961 Census, which recorded a staggering 1,554 languages spoken in India.
- The proposed Language Atlas aims to replicate such exhaustive data collection, offering a comprehensive view of the linguistic tapestry of the nation.
Database for Future Policy Decisions
- Experts highlight the significance of the linguistic survey as a potential database for future policy decisions.
- The detailed insights into language distribution and the number of speakers can inform educational, cultural, and social policies catering to the diverse linguistic needs of the population.
- The Detailed Project Report (DPR) outlines the involvement of various ministries, including Culture, Education, Tribal Affairs, Home, Social Justice and Empowerment, and Development of North East Region, as key stakeholders in the survey.
- Collaborators include the Central Institute of Indian Languages, National Museum, Centres for Endangered Languages, and Linguistic Departments of universities.
Survey Methodology and Phases
- The survey proposes a phased approach, starting with State-wise data collection followed by region-wise analysis.
- Additionally, there is an emphasis on digital archiving of audio recordings for all languages, including those that are endangered or extinct.
- This approach ensures a holistic and technologically advanced documentation of linguistic diversity.
Beyond Communication: Preserving Wisdom and Culture
- It underscores the broader importance of languages beyond communication, emphasizing their role in preserving local wisdom, knowledge, stories, and culture.
- Indigenous medicinal practices, for example, often rely on local languages to pass down traditional knowledge, highlighting the cultural richness intertwined with linguistic diversity.
Historical Context: The Linguistic Survey of India (LSI)
- The initiative by IGNCA draws parallels with the historical context of linguistic surveys, notably the Linguistic Survey of India (LSI) conducted by Sir George Abraham Grierson in 1928.
- The evolving Indian map post-Independence necessitates a contemporary survey that aligns with the current state boundaries and linguistic dynamics.
Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA) :
- The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) was established in 1987
- It is established as an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, as a centre for research, academic pursuit and dissemination in the field of the arts.
- The IGNCA has a trust (i.e. Board of Trustees), which meets regularly to give general direction about the Centre’s work.
- The Executive Committee, drawn from among the Trustees, functions under a Chairman.