
Political Line Newsletter: Thackerays try a new language
The attempt by the BJP-led State government to promote Hindi has opened up new space for the cousins. It remains to be seen whether the sagging political fortunes of the cousins could be revived because of language politics. Bal Thackeray combined Marathi and Hindu identity; the BJP took over the Hindu identity space from the Sena and rose to become the leading force in the State in the last decade. Raj has said he is 'Marathi and Hindu' as opposed to 'Hindi and Hindu.'
Simultaneously, a controversy over Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde raising 'Jai Gujarat,' along with Jai Maharashtra, at an event has erupted. During the 2021 Assembly elections, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee had said she would not allow 'Gujaratis to rule West Bengal.' Ms. Banerjee tries to claim a distinct Bengali, Hindu identity. In that sense, she mimics the Thackerays, in trying to create a vernacular Hindu politics. The State government built a Jagannath Dham in West Bengal, much to the discomfort of the Odisha government. The custodians of the Puri Jagannath temple were up in arms. You can read our reporting here.
Between the censuses of 2001 and 2011, Hindi speakers in Maharashtra grew by 35.57% while Marathi speakers grew by 16.23%. In the same period, the percentage of people with Hindi as their mother tongue has risen to 43.63% from 41.03%, country wide, and Hindi is the fastest growing language in India. The new census will likely prove that this trend continues.
Past and future in TN politics
Archaeological excavations at Keeladi near Madurai in Tamil Nadu continue to animate politics in the State. The antiquity of the Tamil people and delimitation are set to be key campaign issues in the Assembly elections in the State next year. At the heart of the debate is the question whether Tamil Nadu had ancient urban settlements. The TN government has asked the Centre to release the latest findings from the excavation. Experts from Liverpool John Moores University in England studied the skulls excavated from Keeladi and reconstructed the facial features of ancient people who lived around 2,500 years ago.
While the Indus Valley Civilization has been proven as urban, the exact nature of Keeladi settlements remains a dispute. While the State government's archaeology department has concluded that the settlement that dates back to the 6th century BCE was indeed urban, some experts in archaeology feel there must be more evidence before that conclusion can be reached. The lead archaeologist for the first two phases was asked by the Archaeological Survey of India to rewrite his report. He refused and his successor thinks there is no continuity in the structures found in the excavation.
Politics is often based on disputes rather than conclusions. Tamil identity politics always had claims of antiquity and fears of dominance by the north.
All in a name
The Central Board of Film Certification thinks the name Janaki, which is another name of Sita, the wife of Rama in the epic Ramayana, cannot be part of a film title. The matter is now in the Kerala High Court. Union Minister and BJP leader Suresh Gopi is the lead actor in the film. The reasoning of the Censor Board is that the title cannot be allowed as the character Janaki is a victim of sexual assault. There are many films that have Janaki in the title that are approved by the Board. A counsel of the Censor Board cited a norm that films are not supposed to have 'adverse references to religion or caste.' 'To this, counsel for the petitioner firm contended that the character Janaki portrayed in the film was a fighter for justice. The court observed that the character was a victim who was fighting for justice, and not an accused.' The arguments of the Board and the filmmakers and the observations of the Court, all seem to agree in principle that a human fictional character can use the name Janaki only when they meet certain qualities. That is certainly an interesting line of reasoning and application of law and norms. That sets a new bar, a very high one, for the mortals among us. Would it be possible that in the future, Indians may be called upon, nay forced by law, to live up to the character of the names that someone with pious intentions had given them?
Russia woos Afghanistan
Russia became the first country to accord recognition of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, and it is only to be expected that the latter's location as a battlefield of grand power conflicts continues. I considered saying history comes a full circle in Afghanistan, but then this might be just another chapter. Islamists, including the forebears of the Taliban in Afghanistan, gained legitimacy in the West as fighters against the Soviet occupation of the country. Now, with Russia and the West locked in an intense geopolitical conflict both in Europe and West Asia, this new alignment between Moscow and Kabul is notable.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hans India
27 minutes ago
- Hans India
Karnataka BJP slams Rahul Gandhi, says refusal to accept electoral defeat leads to baseless theories
Bengaluru: Responding to Rahul Gandhi's allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI) and claims of having concrete proof of cheating in a constituency in Karnataka, the state BJP has said the Congress leader's refusal to accept electoral defeat has now descended into baseless conspiracy theories. The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Karnataka Assembly, R. Ashoka, said on Friday, "The Lok Sabha results in Karnataka are a decisive mandate in favour of NDA and a resounding rejection of the Congress-led Karnataka government's failures. But instead of introspecting, Rahul Gandhi is now blaming the Election Commission for covering up his party's collapse, and CM Siddaramaiah is endorsing it, not to save democracy but to shield himself from brewing internal backlash and save his chair." The inclusion and deletion of voter names is a transparent process conducted in the presence of representatives from all political parties, Ashoka noted. If there were any legitimate concerns, they should have been raised with evidence before the Election Commission or courts, not turned into political drama after losing, Ashoka pointed out. BJP's victory is a result of people's trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, not some imaginary 'vote theft' narrative peddled by Congress, he said. 'If Rahul Gandhi claims to have proof, what is stopping him from initiating legal action? Why the delay?' Ashoka challenged. "This is nothing but a textbook example of Congress' political bankruptcy, blaming everyone but themselves for their failures," he underlined. "Karnataka BJP unit strongly condemns this attempt to undermine public faith in democratic institutions just because the outcome didn't favour them," Ashoka charged. Rahul Gandhi had stated, "The Election Commission is not functioning as the Election Commission of India. The fact of the matter is, the Election Commission is not doing its job. Now, we have concrete, hundred per cent proof of the Election Commission allowing cheating in a seat in Karnataka." Responding to allegations by the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, against the ECI and his claims of having concrete proof that the ECI allowed cheating for a seat in Karnataka, the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka has refuted the charges, stating that the electoral rolls were prepared transparently and copies were shared with recognised political parties. The statement further stated, "As informed by the Election Commission of India already, Electoral Rolls are shared with all recognised political parties. During Special Summary Revision-2024, which was taken up before the General Elections to Lok Sabha-2024, the copies of draft and final electoral rolls of all 224 Assembly constituencies were provided to representatives of all registered and recognised political parties, including the Indian National Congress (INC)." Supporting the statement of Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday stated that the Congress party's setback in the parliamentary elections was due to the BJP's misuse of the Election Commission. CM Siddaramaiah, in his press statement, said, "The outcome of the recent Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka not only surprised us but also gave rise to several doubts. It is now becoming evident that the main reason behind the Congress party's setback in that election was the BJP's misuse of the Election Commission to carry out irregularities."


News18
36 minutes ago
- News18
'His Life's In Danger': Rabri Devi Alleges Conspiracy To Kill Tejashwi Yadav Amid Bihar SIR Row
Rabri Devi alleged that the ruling BJP-JD(U) alliance was behind a conspiracy to assassinate Tejashwi Yadav amid growing protests over the controversial SIR exercise. As the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) continues protests over Bihar's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi made a shocking claim, alleging a bid to kill Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav. While addressing the media, Rabri Devi raised serious allegations against the ruling BJP-JD(U) alliance, claiming a conspiracy to assassinate Tejashwi Yadav amid growing protests over the controversial SIR exercise. 'We have been surrounding the Assembly since 5 days. The state government must respond… There have been four attempts to kill Tejashwi Yadav, and his life is in danger… The BJP and JD(U) are the ones who are conspiring," she said. Rabri Devi accused the BJP of snatching the people's right to vote. While the Election Commission insists that the SIR exercise is a routine, court-monitored process aimed at eliminating bogus voters, the opposition has claimed that it risks the disenfranchisement of millions, particularly migrant workers and economically vulnerable citizens who may struggle to meet document requirements. 'I know him since childhood… he used to do hooliganism at Boring Road. He used to harass girls at Boring Road," she said. Her remarks followed a heated altercation between Choudhary and Tejashwi Yadav in the Bihar Assembly on Thursday over the Election Commission's ongoing SIR process. The BJP leader targeted Tejashwi personally and said, 'Who are you? The one whose father is a criminal, what will he say? Get lost… you're a lootera – lootera… what will he say?" In response, Tejashwi Yadav said, 'If you speak too loudly, you'll get wet." The RJD leader later reiterated that the parties in the opposition alliance could boycott the upcoming elections in Bihar if the Election Commission's voter roll revision in Bihar was not stopped. The Bihar SIR row has been at the centre of opposition protests in the Parliament, resulting in five consecutive days of disruptions as MPs raised slogans and displayed placards demanding a rollback of the exercise. Elections are likely to be held in Bihar around October-November, as the term of the assembly ends in November. First Published: July 25, 2025, 13:38 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


News18
41 minutes ago
- News18
Amid Language Row At Home, Maharashtra Govt To Provide Curriculum To Marathi Schools In US
Last Updated: Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar met Maharashtra Mandal members in California, which runs a Marathi school in San Francisco since 2005 for second-gen Marathi children. In a significant outreach to the global Marathi community, Maharashtra's Information Technology and Cultural Affairs Minister, Ashish Shelar, has assured that the state government will soon provide an official Marathi curriculum to Marathi schools operating in the United States. Currently on a tour of the US, Shelar met office-bearers of the Maharashtra Mandal in the Bay Area, California. The Mandal has been running a Marathi school in San Francisco since 2005, helping second-generation Marathi children learn their mother tongue, culture, history, and the folk traditions of Maharashtra. Around 300 students are enrolled in this school, learning Marathi out of pure community effort and passion. Across the US, more than 50 such volunteer-run Marathi schools are keeping the language alive far from home. The move comes at a time when the Marathi language has become a point of emotional and political debate back home. In Maharashtra, tensions have simmered for years over the perceived encroachment of Hindi on Marathi's cultural and administrative space. From signboards in Mumbai to school syllabi and competitive exams, pro-Marathi groups have often demanded stronger safeguards to ensure Marathi's primacy in the state. Recent controversies — including demands for mandatory Marathi signage in shops and debates over language policy in schools — have only intensified this sentiment. Against this backdrop, the state government's promise to strengthen Marathi learning even abroad is being seen as an attempt to reassure the global Marathi community that their roots and identity will be nurtured, no matter where they live. During the meeting in San Francisco, the school's representatives told Minister Shelar that official support from the Maharashtra government would make teaching, examinations, and certification much smoother. Many schools there are run purely on community donations and volunteer teachers, but they lack standardized teaching material and an official stamp that could help students and parents gain confidence in the curriculum's authenticity. Minister Shelar assured them that he would discuss this initiative with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and School Education Minister Dada Bhuse. He promised that the government will not only prepare and share an official syllabus but also issue necessary recommendations to the local US authorities if needed. For many families living thousands of miles away from Maharashtra, this move could make it easier to pass on their language and cultural roots to their children — ensuring that Marathi thrives, not just in the state, but across the world. view comments First Published: July 25, 2025, 13:37 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.