Kerala welcomes classical language status for Malayalam

Kerala Thursday welcomed the central cabinet's decision to approve classical language status for Malayalam, subject to the outcome of a case in the Madras High Court, even as the government and opposition sough to take credit for the measure.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in a statement issued here Thursday night thanked the central government for taking language to greater heights.

"Through this, it has been proved that Malayalam language and culture is not behind any other language or culture. This is going to give a greater impetus to Malayalam and further its progress," he said.

His predecessor and Leader of Opposition V.S.Achuthanandan also took credit for the decision, saying it was the Left government (under him) that took the fundamental steps.

"Now the state government here should take steps to see that Malayalam is made as the first language in schools and also a compulsory subject," he said in a statement.

Both Telugu and Kannada have been notified as classical languages earlier.

According to an official statement, the union cabinet approved a proposal to classify Malayalam as a classical language subject to the outcome of the hearing on a writ petition in the Madras High Court.