Promotion and Protection of Maithili

• 14 Feb 2019

The Ministry of Human Resource Development has decided to apply some of the recommendations of a committee constituted in 2018 for the promotion and protection of Maithili language and its scripts.

• The accepted recommendations include:
  • Establishment of a script and manuscript centre in Darbhanga either at Kameshwar Singh Sanskrit University or Lalit Narayan Mithila University,
  • Early completion of work pertaining to Unicode scripts of Mithilakshar by the Technology Development of Indian Languages and
  • Preparation of audio-visual materials for teaching the Mithilakshar scripts.

Mithilakshar Script of Maithili Language

• Mithilakshar or Tirhuta is the script of broader cultural Mithila.
• Mithilakshar, Bangla, Assamese, Nebari, Odia and Tibetan are a part of the same family of scripts.
• It is an ancient script and is one of the scripts of the broader North Eastern India.
• Mithilakshar script emerged during 10th Century AD as its oldest form was found in Sahodara stone inscriptions of 950 AD.
• The script has been used throughout Mithila from Champaran to Deoghar.
• The use of this script has been declining since the last 100 years, which is the primary reason for the cultural decline.

Maithili Language

• Maithili is a language spoken in Bihar belonging to the eastern sub-group of the Indo-Aryan branch. Bhojpuri and Magadhi are closely related to the language.
• The language is claimed to have developed from the Magadhan Prakrit.
• It was the literary language of all of eastern India during the medieval period.
• This language was popularised in fourteenth century by poet Vidyapati and solidified the importance of the language in literature.
• Maithili language has been accorded Constitutional status in 2003 and it became one of the 22 languages mentioned in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.