In an attempt to boost the state-wide demand of giving Marathi the status of a classical language, activists of Maharashtra Navnirman Vidhyarthi Sena (MNVS) led by Aditya Shirodkar on Monday met deputy director of school education and urged him to ask schools across the city to celebrate “Marathi Bhasha Diwas” on February 27. The deputy director reportedly assured them that a circular this the effect would be issued to schools through education inspectors of respective zones. Volunteers of MNVS have demanded that the day be celebrated in all schools to make students aware of the importance of Marathi language. [related-post] “Marathi Bhasha Diwas” is celebrated to mark the birth anniversary of senior Marathi laureate and famous poet V V Shirwadkar, popularly known as his pen name Kusumagraj, who was a Gyanpeeth Award winner. The day is already being celebrated by many organisations across the state, including a few departments of Mumbai University and other state universities. Shirodkar said, “The day stands for the pride of Maharashtra and the Marathi language. The new generation must understand the importance of the language. To keep its heritage alive among school students, this day should be celebrated. The idea is to promote Marathi culture. At school levels, they should organise elocution and essay competition and discussion on Marathi literature. In fact, schools can also felicitate Marathi writers and poets at during the celebrations.” When contacted, S Fadtare, deputy director of school education in Mumbai, said, “We had a meeting with a delegation of the students’ wing of the MNS. We are looking at issuing instructions to the education inspectors soon about Marathi Bhasha Diwas celebrations at schools.” There have been various such demands to the school education department from students’ wings of political parties, asking for celebrations on certain days and declaring holidays on others. For the last two years, the Shiv Sena and MNS have been pressuring the education department for declaring a five-day holiday during Ganeshotsav. This led to a controversy as some schools were asked to reduce Chirstmas holidays. The last-minute changes in the holiday schedule have led to confusion amongst schools, which have been forced to follow different holiday calendars. dipti.singh@expressindia.com
