State Culture Department sources here said the experts' panel set up by the Akademy has accepted the arguments advanced by the state that Malayalam has all the parameters set for giving classical tag to Indian languages.
About a year back, the Akademy had rejected Kerala's arguments that the language spoken by over three crore Malayalis be given the classical status which other South Indian languages already enjoy.
Apart from the entire political spectrum, writers, cultural personalities and academics had then protested strongly and accused the Akademy of being prejudiced against Malayalam.
However, declining to be disheartened, the Congress-led UDF Government headed by Oommen Chandy has actively campaigned for the classical tag for Malayalam.
Historians, linguists and philologists have also cited firm evidence to establish Malayalam's antiquity and literary credentials.
"The Akademy's decision means Malayalam has moved closer to getting the classical tag. This is an important decision that will gladden all Malayalais," eminent writer Akbar Kakkattil said.
"Classical status does not mean a mere honorofic. It will bring resources for studies and research of the language and its promotion among the new generation," Kakkattil, himself a teacher of Malayalam literature, said.
He,however,said more important than any other promotional work is that it is every Keralite's duty to see that the new generation of Malayalis learn the language, wherever they are.
