Tezpur University in Assam has been selected to host the Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Assamese, following approval from the Union Ministry of Education. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday, October 2, welcomed the decision, saying the initiative would strengthen research, digitisation and preservation of the state’s linguistic and literary heritage.
The approval was conveyed through an Office Memorandum issued on October 1 by the Language Division of the Department of Higher Education. The initiative includes the establishment of five Centres of Excellence dedicated to Classical Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit.
Tezpur University Selected for Classical Assamese Centre
Under the Union government’s decision, Tezpur University has been designated as the institution that will host the Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Assamese.
The centre is intended to provide dedicated institutional support for advanced academic research, preservation, digitisation and wider dissemination of Assamese linguistic and literary heritage.
Sarma said the Assam government had been pursuing the establishment of a specialised centre following the recognition of Assamese as a Classical Language.
In a public statement, the Chief Minister described the approval as a significant development for Assamese people in the state and across the world. He also expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for the decision.
Centre to Strengthen Research and Digital Preservation
The proposed Centre of Excellence is expected to expand academic work on the history, language and literature of Assamese.
Its focus areas will include research, digitisation of manuscripts, preservation of historical literary materials and dissemination of scholarly knowledge.
The initiative is also expected to create opportunities for researchers, university scholars and students to undertake specialised studies on classical Assamese texts and traditions.
Digital preservation is particularly relevant for safeguarding manuscripts and rare literary materials, making them more accessible for future academic research.
Tezpur University’s Existing Work in Assamese Studies
The new centre will build on Tezpur University’s existing academic infrastructure for Assamese language and culture.
The university established its Centre for Assamese Studies in 2011, which undertook research and archival work involving manuscripts, books and other materials related to Assamese literature and culture.
Its Department of Assamese, established in 2019, has also identified textual criticism and digital humanities among its research areas.
The university’s existing facilities and academic experience are expected to support the expanded mandate of the newly approved Centre of Excellence.
Five Centres Approved for Classical Languages
Alongside the Assamese centre at Tezpur University, the Ministry of Education has approved four other institutions to host Centres of Excellence.
- Classical Bengali: Visva-Bharati University, West Bengal
- Classical Marathi: Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute, Pune
- Classical Pali: Central University of Odisha
- Classical Prakrit: Central University of Gujarat
The five centres will work towards strengthening research and safeguarding the linguistic and literary heritage of their respective languages.
Assamese Received Classical Language Status in 2024
The approval comes two years after Assamese was granted Classical Language status by the Union Cabinet in October 2024, along with Bengali, Marathi, Pali and Prakrit.
The recognition acknowledged the historical and literary significance of these languages and provided a framework for dedicated academic initiatives.
The establishment of a specialised centre at Tezpur University is expected to support systematic research into Assamese literary traditions and help preserve valuable linguistic resources.
Focus on Taking Assamese Heritage to Future Generations
Welcoming the decision, Sarma said the centre would help ensure that Assamese linguistic and literary heritage reaches future generations.
The initiative is expected to connect traditional scholarship with modern research methods, including digital archiving and manuscript preservation.
With Tezpur University selected to host the centre, Assam will have a dedicated institutional platform for advancing the study of Classical Assamese and expanding research into its literary and cultural history.