The concept of the “oldest language” in India is a complex one, as India is incredibly diverse linguistically, with a rich tapestry of languages and dialects spoken throughout its history. However, if you are asking about the oldest languages that have left written records and can be traced back through historical and archaeological evidence, several ancient Indian languages come to mind:

• Sanskrit: Sanskrit is often considered one of the oldest languages in India with a well- documented history. It is the language of many ancient religious and philosophical texts, including the Vedas, Upanishads, and the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Sanskrit has had a profound influence on the development of other Indian languages.

• Tamil: Tamil is another ancient language with a rich literary tradition. It has been spoken in the southern part of the Indian subcontinent for thousands of years and has a substantial body of classical literature, including Sangam poetry.

• Prakrits: Prakrit languages, a group of ancient Indo-Aryan languages, were spoken in various regions of ancient India. These languages evolved into several modern Indian languages, such as Hindi, Marathi, and Gujarati.

• Dravidian languages: The Dravidian language family, which includes Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam, has been spoken in South India for millennia. Tamil, in particular, has a long history and a vast body of literature.

It’s essential to note that India’s linguistic history is incredibly diverse, and many languages have ancient roots. The classification of the ‘oldest’ language can depend on various criteria, including written records, archaeological findings, and linguistic research. Additionally, languages evolve and change over time, so pinpointing the absolute oldest language can be challenging.