Recent comments by senior RSS figure Suresh ‘Bhaiyaji’ Joshi have sparked a heated political discussion in Maharashtra about the status of Marathi as the state’s main language. At an event in Ghatkopar, Joshi stirred up trouble by stating that “Mumbai has no language” and hinting that people living in the city don’t need to learn Marathi. He pointed out that areas like Ghatkopar speak Gujarati, while parts of Girgaum use more Marathi, suggesting that newcomers coming to Mumbai might not have to pick up Marathi.
The remark sparked immediate criticism from various political groups the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut slammed Joshi’s statement calling it an insult to state identity. He challenged the legitimacy of such comments asking if anyone would dare make similar claims about the local languages of other cities like Kolkata, Lucknow, or Chennai. Aditya Thackeray, a Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also stated that Marathi is not just the language of Maharashtra, but also Mumbai, and it can’t be ignored.
CM Fadnavis Affirms Marathi as Mumbai’s Language
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, responding to the controversy, emphasised that Marathi remains the language of the state and its capital. He stated that while Mumbai is a multilingual city, it is crucial for everyone to learn Marathi. Fadnavis also stressed that his government respects all languages but emphasised the importance of Marathi in the local culture, calling on people to embrace the language.
Joshi, meanwhile, sought to clarify his remarks, suggesting that they had been misunderstood. He reaffirmed that Marathi is the language of Maharashtra but pointed out the multilingual nature of Mumbai, acknowledging that people from various linguistic backgrounds live in the city. However, he reiterated that newcomers should understand and learn Marathi to integrate better into the city.
Maha Govt’s Push for Marathi Education Sparks Debate
The controversy comes at a time when the Maharashtra government has made Marathi a compulsory subject for students in schools affiliated with ICSE and CBSE boards. The BJP-led government’s push for the language has been met with support from parties like Shiv Sena and MNS, who have long advocated for the greater use of Marathi in the state’s public and cultural life.
This language row in Maharashtra also coincides with a similar debate in Tamil Nadu, where the ruling DMK has expressed strong opposition to the Centre’s ‘three-language formula’ in the New Education Policy. The debate highlights the ongoing challenges surrounding language policies and their cultural implications in India.
