Dharmendra Pradhan releases 55 literary works in classical Indian languages, Tirukkural sign language series

Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday released 55 scholarly works in classical Indian languages, including a 45-episode sign language interpretation series of the Tirukkural, at an event held in New Delhi.

Of the 55 works, 41 literary volumes have been developed by the Centres of Excellence for Classical Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam and Odia under the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL).

In addition, 13 books and the Sign Language Tirukkural series have been produced by the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT).

The minister also released the English and Hindi translations of ‘Madalapanji’ and the English translation of ‘Rudrasudhanidhi’, noting that these publications will help take Odia history and philosophical texts to a wider readership beyond regional boundaries.

‘Indian languages a unifying force’

Pradhan said the new works represent a broader national effort to place Indian languages at the centre of education, research and cultural identity.

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He stated that Indian languages are a unifying force and have “stood the test of time despite attempts to undermine them.” He added that the government is working to include more languages in the Scheduled list, expand translations of classical texts, and encourage education in Indian languages.

While speaking on the resilience of Indian languages, Pradhan Said, “Our languages are a unifying force. Indian languages have stood the test of time despite the attempts to destroy them.”

The minister emphasised that linguistic diversity is both a strength and a responsibility, calling for collective efforts to ensure that India’s historical, cultural and literary wealth is preserved for future generations.

He said the publications will support scholars, translators, language enthusiasts and academic institutions engaged in classical and regional language research.

Pradhan also reiterated that the promotion of Indian languages is closely linked with cultural confidence and inclusive knowledge systems, and affirmed that the government remains committed to strengthening initiatives that support language preservation, accessibility and public awareness across the country.