Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis delivered a definitive statement on the state's language policy, firmly declaring that Marathi will continue to be the only mandatory language in Maharashtra. He made this announcement while addressing the inaugural session of the 99th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in Satara on Friday.
Clarifying the Language Policy Amid Controversy
The Chief Minister's statement comes as a direct response to sustained criticism from opposition parties and regional linguistic groups. These groups had accused the state government, led by the BJP, of attempting to impose Hindi on non-Hindi speakers within Maharashtra. "As the chief minister of Maharashtra, I want to state clearly that Marathi is and will continue to be the only mandatory language here. There will be no compulsion for any other language," Fadnavis asserted.
The controversy stems from a government order issued in April 2024, which mandated Hindi as the third language for students from Standards I to V. Following public discontent, the order was revised in June 2024 to make Hindi optional. However, a stipulation requiring at least 20 students to choose an alternative language was widely seen as making Hindi the default option, further fuelling opposition.
Committee Formed to Review Policy Framework
Under mounting pressure, the state government eventually withdrew all Government Resolutions (GRs) related to the three-language policy. It announced the formation of a committee headed by Dr. Narendra Jadhav to review the policy and recommend a new framework.
Explaining the government's position, Fadnavis noted that while the three-language formula was discussed, the debate primarily centered on the class from which it should be implemented. He referenced a report from the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government that suggested making three languages compulsory from Standard I. "Some opposed this, so we appointed a committee under Narendra Jadhav to consult stakeholders and submit recommendations. We will present the report and take an appropriate decision. But let me reiterate, Marathi will remain compulsory," the Chief Minister clarified.
Political Reactions and the Path Forward
Opposition parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), have strongly criticised the idea of making Hindi mandatory from Standard I. The NCP (SP) suggested retaining the current practice of introducing Hindi from Standard V. These parties have accused the BJP-led Mahayuti government of trying to impose Hindi to appease migrant populations from Hindi-speaking regions in cities like Mumbai and Pune.
In a counter to these allegations, Fadnavis drew a comparison with foreign languages. "We welcome foreign languages like English, French and Spanish, but opposing Indian languages while embracing foreign ones is unfair. All languages deserve respect, but our mother tongue deserves the highest honour. Our government will continue to uphold this principle," he stated.
The Chief Minister also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for supporting efforts to secure Classical Language status for Marathi. He highlighted initiatives like establishing a Marathi Study Centre at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi. "We aim to elevate Rajmanya Marathi Bhasha to Lokmanya Marathi Bhasha," Fadnavis proclaimed, outlining a vision for the language's prestige.
At the literary meet, Vishwas Patil, the president of the Sammelan, urged parents to enrol their children in Marathi-medium schools to preserve the language. He cited a worrying decline, noting that Marathi speakers in Mumbai fell from 52% during the Sanyukt Maharashtra movement to around 30% in 2008, with numbers believed to be even lower now. The event's special guest, author Mridula Garg, delivered her address in Hindi, praising the richness of Marathi literature. The Sammelan will conclude on Sunday.
