Latest news with #ClassicalMarathiLanguageDay
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Maha Govt declares Oct 3 as Marathi Language Day, counters Thackeray bonhomie
Nagpur: After withdrawing two government resolutions (GRs) introducing Hindi as a third language from Class 1 in state schools which triggered a high-pitched political slugfest, the Maharashtra govt announced October 3 as Abhijat Marathi Bhasha Din (Classical Marathi Language Day), countering the symbolic reunion of Uddhav and at a Mumbai rally on Saturday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Marathi Bhasha Din will be followed by a week-long statewide celebration recognising Marathi's ancient literary heritage. Political observers say the ruling coalition's withdrawal of the controversial Hindi-in-schools circular was driven less by linguistic pride and more by looming local body elections — particularly the high-stakes battle for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). On Saturday, at a rally marking the rollback, the long-separated Thackeray cousins — Uddhav and Raj — shared the dais for the first time in over two decades, joined by their respective political heirs Aaditya and Amit. The rare embrace electrified party cadres and re-energised their political relevance. "It was the moment every Marathi voter waited for," one Shiv Sainik said. Political analysts believe the Marathi language issue provided the perfect cover for the cousins to realign. "Both UBT Sena and MNS have struggled since the assembly polls. While Uddhav Sena managed to win 20 seats, the Raj Thackeray-led scored a zero. This was a strategic opportunity to consolidate Marathi sentiment," an observer noted, pointing out that the BJP-led govt scored a self-goal in issuing Hindi language circulars at the wrong time. The official govt resolution, meanwhile, calls for cultural and academic activities across departments, schools, civic bodies, and private institutions. District collectors have been named nodal officers for the celebration, which will include book exhibitions, manuscript displays, lectures, quizzes, elocution contests, and digitisation of classical works. Reports of these programmes must be submitted to the Directorate of Languages by October 31. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Marathi was granted the elite status of a classical language in 2024 (placing it in the league of Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia) acknowledging its 2,500-year-old literary lineage and scholarly contributions. Still, the timing of the announcement — after a massive political outcry over the Hindi directive — makes it hard to ignore the political undertone. As one senior leader admitted privately, "We gave them an issue. They gave us a political moment." Uddhav-Raj reunion: Shiv Sainiks say Balasaheb's dream fulfilled The coming together of Thackeray cousins has been hailed by city-based Shiv Sena (UBT) cadre as the fulfilment of late Balasaheb Thackeray's dream. In Nagpur, party workers led by city chief Nitin Tiwari celebrated the reunion at Bahadura-based Shiv Sena office with sweet distribution and patriotic slogans hailing Marathi pride. Calling it a "historic moment," Tiwari said, "For 18 to 20 years, every Marathi-speaking citizen of this state waited for this day. Today, Balasaheb's dream has been realised and a proud moment for every Shiv Sainik." Tiwari added that it will give birth to a new era of "Thackeray-style" politics, where self-respect and rights of the Marathi community will be safeguarded. He called the event not just political symbolism but a socio-cultural realignment for Marathi pride. "This is not just about votes. This is about our roots, identity, and future," Tiwari said.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Today in Politics: Uddhav, Raj Thackeray to hold joint ‘victory' rally after Maharashtra govt reverses policy on Hindi
For the first time in 20 years, estranged cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray will share the stage on Saturday at a joint 'victory' rally organised by the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to celebrate the BJP-led Mahayuti government's rollback of two contentious government resolutions (GRs) on the three-language policy in Maharashtra. Calling it 'Marathi Vijay Diwas', the parties had initially planned separate protest marches against the state government's three-language policy in schools, which the Opposition termed as an 'imposition of Hindi'. Facing mounting pressure, ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly's Monsoon Session, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis revoked the GRs, which introduced Hindi as a third language in primary schools. The first GR had made Hindi the mandatory third language for students from Class 1 to 5, while the second one made it optional. The CM also announced the formation of a committee to reexamine the three-language policy. On Friday, as the government sought to recover from the withdrawal of its GRs, Fadnavis said no one in the state should be targeted for not knowing Marathi, days after MNS workers assaulted a shopkeeper for not speaking in Marathi. Fadnavis's remarks came a day after his administration issued a resolution announcing that October 3 would be celebrated annually as 'Classical Marathi Language Day'. With the elections to the high-profile Mumbai civic body and other municipal corporations due in the coming months, a potential rapprochement between the Thackeray brothers on the sensitive issue of the Marathi identity is being keenly watched in state political circles. Raj Thackeray, nephew of late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, had resigned from the then undivided Shiv Sena in 2006, apparently due to differences with Uddhav. Of late, however, the Thackerays have come closer together, signalling a possible alliance in the forthcoming civic polls. But Raj Thackeray, particularly after a meeting with Fadnavis, had sparked further speculation of an alliance with the BJP. While a Thackeray reunion could help consolidate the Marathi votes and tap into the emotional connect of older voters who long for the Bal Thackeray era, the BJP views the MNS as a strategic disruptor that draws support from the same Marathi-speaking electorate that forms the Sena (UBT)'s core voter base. Though the Sena (UBT) and MNS are coming together for the joint rally on Saturday, where they will likely present a united front on the issue of Marathi identity, it remains to be seen if the parties form an alliance for the local body elections and beyond. Amit Shah in Gujarat Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who also holds the cooperation portfolio, is set to visit Gujarat's Anand, where he will lay the foundation stone of the country's first national level cooperative university, the Tribhuvan Sahkari University, on Saturday. Gujarat CM Bhupendrabhai Patel and Assembly Speaker Shankar Chaudhary will also be in attendance, along with other Union and state ministers. – With PTI inputs
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Govt: Oct 3 will be ‘Classical Marathi Day'
Mumbai: The state govt has announced Oct 3 will be celebrated as 'Classical Marathi Language Day' following the Centre's decision last year to confer the status of classical language on Marathi. Also, October 3 to 9 will be marked as 'Classical Marathi Language Week' every year, it said. A govt resolution issued by the Marathi language department on Thursday stated the move aims to promote awareness, preservation of and scholarly engagement with Marathi's rich linguistic and literary heritage. PTI
India Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Maharashtra declares October 3 as classical Marathi language day amid row
Amid a row over the three-language policy in Maharashtra, the state government on Friday issued an order to celebrate October 3 every year as Abhijat Marathi Bhasha Diwas (Classical Marathi Language Day). This decision follows the government's move to declare Marathi a classical language on October 3 last to a Government Resolution dated October 14, 2024, the state will not only celebrate the day but also observe a Classical Marathi Language Week, featuring various activities to promote research and public engagement around the language's rich government has clarified that the move aims to encourage deeper academic inquiry and foster pride in Marathi's classical legacy. Instructions for planning and conducting related events have been issued to departments and institutions at all levels. The announcement comes in the wake of backlash over the state's implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, particularly the controversial three-language April, the Maharashtra government issued a General Resolution declaring Hindi as the default third language for students from Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English-medium schools. The policy triggered widespread criticism from political, cultural and social pressure, the government cancelled the order and announced the formation of a new committee to revisit the language policy. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified that Hindi would not be mandatory, and students could choose any regional language as a third language. A revised order later said that Hindi would "generally" be taught as the third language, without making it tensions over the language issue intensified further when Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers allegedly assaulted a sweet shop owner after he claimed ignorance of Marathi being Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray reacted to the incident, saying emotions can run high when the state's identity is disrespected.'We want that our mother tongue Marathi is not insulted and no language is forcefully imposed. We don't want anybody to take the law into their hands, but when it is the other way round and Marathi or Maharashtra is insulted, things can escalate,' he said.- Ends IN THIS STORY#Maharashtra
