Well - India has 22 scheduled languages which are used as official languages and enjoy high level of development owing to state patronage. Each of these languages are spoken by more than a million people. Besides India has close to 800 unlisted languages which do not get the level of patronage that is required and is facing slow extinction. Some of these languages are spoken by less than 1000 people today and are in danger of imminent extinction. Unless we document and preserve them, a large chunk of human history and wisdom shall be wiped out with out any hope of claiming them back. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_India