ABP Majha’s special conclave Abhijat Marathi gets Maharashtra’s political heavyweights Raj Thackeray, Supriya Sule, Subhash Desai and Vinod Tawde to support elite status for Marathi language.

 

Mumbai, 26 th February, 2022: ABP Majha organized a special conclave – Abhijat Marathi on

the occasion of Marathi language day. The conclave included an on-ground event on 25 th

and 26 th February where speakers from all walks of life spoke on the history and significance

of promoting Marathi as an elite language.

The event was held at Welingkar Institute of Management’s auditorium and will telecast on

26 th and 27 th February on ABP Majha, throughout the day. The conclave provided the perfect

platform for the speakers to share their views on the growing demand of assigning an elite

status to Marathi language. This demand has been gathering pace for quite a few years as

the state administration has been pushing the central government on this demand. Several

eminent politicians, activists, academicians, directors, writers and singers shared anecdotal

examples and stressed upon the cultural significance of Marathi language and the need to

support and enrich it for future generations, during the conclave.

On the first day of the conclave, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Chief Raj Thackeray

addressed the audience emphasizing upon the need for using Marathi language with pride

across Maharashtra, he further stated that Marathi language is at the heart of

Maharashtra’s existence and paid tribute to historical figures like Chhatrapati Shivaji

Maharaj for creating first Marathi dictionary. He also praised the efforts of artists and

Marathi literary figures who have played a major role in the development of Marathi

language. Sharing his ideas on using Marathi language with pride, he drew upon the

example of the Mantralaya in Bengal where popular works of Bengali artists are displayed

and Bengali songs are constantly played in the premises. He questioned why can’t such

pride invoking steps be taken at the Mantralaya in Maharashtra?

Raj Thackeray opined that the existence of languages does not depend only on assigning an

elite status but how the governments and society collectively contribute towards enriching

and sustaining the language.

Highlights of the event

Vinod Tawde:

 “We have to put faith in the hearts of the Marathi people about the Marathi

language and it is only us who has to do this. Today, the importance being given to

the English language should be given to the Marathi language as well. Work needs to

put in for Marathi Centre or building.”

Subhash Desai:

 “We, i.e. India should also do the same usage or experiment, as done by the

Singapore.”

 “Now a days, people are afraid that if they do not know any other language than

Marathi, then we might not get employment anywhere. People should get out of this

thinking.”

 “We should teach our history to our kids and our mother tongue is as important as

English.”

 “We should also give priority to our vernacular language.”

Supriya Sule

 “Learning Marathi is important. But, we should change ourselves with the times.

Now, English is having international importance. If we have to keep the pace with

the world, then we should learn it.”

 “I want my daughter to learn the language which I learnt. We have to think of the

means through which we can register it at digital level.”

 “Today’s young generation can learn both the languages.”

 “These days, the Marathi language books are available online. But, today’s children

don’t have the habit of reading. If they have the desire to learn then both the

children and their guardians can get those books and read them.”

 “Book stalls, which have been installed by the Maharashtra government are available

at many places. But, the question is how much the people would like to utilise them.

This is a point to ponder.”

 “We can make people understand this language through virtual classrooms.”

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