Electoral battle brings issue of classical language status to Marathi to the fore

Opposition Congress has already made the demand to accord classical language status to Marathi.

In 2020, the MVA government led by Uddhav Thackeray moved a resolution to urge the Centre to accord classical language status to Marathi. (File photo)

The electoral battle between the ruling and Opposition alliances has brought to the fore the issue of according classical language status to Marathi which has been pending for more than a decade now.

After his visit to Mumbai on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted a series of messages in Marathi on social media site X, in which he talked about the Marathi pride.

“Mumbai cannot be imagined without Marathi pride. I am personally committed to promote Marathi culture and popularise Marathi language, especially among the young generation. We will use the strength of technology for it and bring it to reality,” the PM said in his post.

Opposition Congress has already made the demand to accord classical language status to Marathi. “When Dr Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister, Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia were declared classical Indian languages,” said Jairam Ramesh, general secretary in charge of communications of Congress.

Slamming the BJP, he said, “For 10 years, the now outgoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done nothing on the well-argued case submitted by then Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Prithviraj Chavan, on July 11, 2014, to declare Marathi as a classical Indian language. The Indian National Congress pledges that Marathi will be declared a classical Indian language as soon as the INDIA government is formed.”

While the BJP has not yet announced the same, other political parties, including both factions of the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), have been supporting the demand for the same.

The issue of according classical language status is with the Union home ministry. The committee under litterateur Rangnath Pathare had submitted its report, which concluded that Marathi language fulfills all the parameters to be recognised as classical language.

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In 2020, the MVA government led by Uddhav Thackeray moved a resolution to urge the Centre to accord classical language status to Marathi and it was passed unanimously by both the legislative houses. According to government sources, lack of pressure group in Delhi and political will is causing the Centre to not go ahead with the decision.

Despite the majority pushing for the classical language status, a group working for Marathi language has its reservations. “The issue is not how ancient Marathi language is, the issue is the future of Marathi in Maharashtra.

We are seeing closure of Marathi schools. Will classical language status stop that,” asked Dr Deepak Pawar, a Marathi language activist and head of Marathi Bhasha Kendra. “According this status is an easiest thing for politicians as it absolves them of any further responsibility towards conservation and promotion of language for future generations,” he said.

Alok Deshpande

Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues. Expertise Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai. Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands'). Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including: State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana). Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides). Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits. Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects. Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission. Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards. Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra. He tweets @alokdesh ... Read More

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