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Monday, January 25, 2010

Why don't the Marathi people speak in Marathi themselves?

This is the biggest problem which the language is facing now. I don't understand what is the problem with the Marathi Manus. Why doesn't the Marathi Manus speak in Marathi. Marathi has a history of 1200 years and is very prosperous language. However, when a Marathi Manus is supposed to talk with anyone on the street, he will always talk in Hindi. If it is an official situation, he will talk in English. Are they ashamed of their language.

Moreover, the Marathi youth is least concerned about anything regarding his language or state. I do not wish to criticize anybody, but I cannot stand anybody insulting my language and culture. If somebody is the culprit for that, I will surely mock him. Just because of some fools, I cannot allow my language to be insulted.

Don't you ever think that when you go to some other state, nobody there will speak in your mother tongue. The people with whom you speak in Hind are Hindi speakers. However, Marathi is not known in the entire country. Use Marathi, because if you don't, nobody will. Think that when you go to Tamil Nadu to work, nobody there will speak in Hindi let alone Marathi. Keep in mind that, when you respect yourself, only then do others respect you. So when you don't speak in Marathi, why will others speak in Marathi.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Can a person living in Maharashtra refuse to learn or speak Marathi?

Many migrants would say that they cannot be told to learn or speak Marathi because they already speak Hindi which is the so called national language. There are people who are living in Maharashtra since the past 20-40 years but still are unable to speak in Marathi. They give the excuse that they can understand Marathi but find it difficult to speak it rightly. I would ask them, what did they do for the last 20-40 years? Even after studying Marathi for 10 years why can't they speak in Marathi?

For me, everyone who is a domicile of Maharashtra is a Maharashtrian. However, only the person who speaks Marathi as his mother tongue is Marathi. It is very disappointing to see that Marathi is being rejected in the very state which was formed on basis of this language. How can anyone protest against a law which benefits the Marathi language in Maharashtra. Nobody is asking to speak in Marathi outside of Maharashtra. The irony of the situation is that, the Marathi Manus himself is not concerned about his language and culture.

Is Hindi really the ''National Language'' of India?

I am looking into the matter with a neutral perspective but even then the conclusion is the same. What has been told is not the complete truth. I will not tell it right away, because no one will believe it until it is proved to be so. So here you have your proof. Buy a copy of the Constitution of India.

The Constitution of India states as follows:
===========================================
PART XVII

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

CHAPTER I.- LANGUAGE OF THE UNION

343. Official language of the Union.

1. The official language of the Union shall be Hindi in Devanagari script. The form of numerals to be used for the official purposes of the Union shall be the international form of Indian numerals.
2. Notwithstanding anything in clause (1), for a period of fifteen years from the commencement of this Constitution, the English language shall continue to be used for all the official purposes of the Union for which it was being used immediately before such commencement: Provided that the President may, during the said period, by order authorise the use of the Hindi language in addition to the English language and of the Devanagari form of numerals in addition to the international form of Indian numerals for any of the official purposes of the Union.
3. Notwithstanding anything in this article, Parliament may by law provide for the use, after the said period of fifteen years, of-
4.
1. the English language, or
2. the Devanagari form of numerals, for such purposes as may be specified in the law.
===========================================

Did you notice the bold characters. They are not written by me. It is the real and authentic text of the constitution. It says that Hindi is the ''Official Language of India''. Its is not the National Language. One has no right to interpret the word 'official' as 'national'. If it were to be the national language, it would have been mentioned as such, in the constitution. The notion of Hindi being the national language can be easily challenged.

So Hindi is nothing great from any other language in India. It has the same status as all other official languages. Even I accept that Hindi is the official language of India. I have no objection to learn Hindi or to speak it. However, nobody can force me to speak in Hindi, I stay in Maharashtra and the native language here is Marathi.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

The Indentity Politics

Now a days 'Identity Politics' has become a very important issue. Many people think that it is useless, but nobody wants to examine the reason behind the rise of Identity Politics. The core issue of identity is now seen as national pride versus regional (linguistic) identity. To understand it we should analyze the situation rightly.

Everything goes back to history. Regional (linguistic) Identity is a universal issue. It not bound to India alone. In India, when somebody talks about Regional Identity, he is called as a traitor. People say that he is creating a problem for Unity of the country. However, they do not understand that protecting our language does not mean hatred towards other languages. The Indian media (Hindi & English) is to be blamed for the false image of the Marathi cause. When somebody talks about Tamil, he protecting his culture but when somebody talks about Marathi, he is dividing the country.

Others are more possessive about Mumbai than the Marathi people themselves. They forget that we had to sacrifice 105 lives for gaining the state of Maharashtra with Mumbai as its capital city. The blood of 105 martyrs (Hutatma) lies in the soil of Mumbai which we cannot forget. I would compare their martyrdom with that of those who died in Jalianwalabaug Massacre. The only difference I see in it is that the ones who died in Jalianwalabaug were killed by foreigners but those who died in Mumbai, died at the hands of Our Own People. The irony of the situation is that, those who died at Hutatama Chowk are not even remembered by the Marathi people for whom the laid down their lives.

At the end I have just a few questions.

Why were peaceful demonstrators shot upon?


Why did the Indian government object to the formation of united Maharashtra with Mumbai as its capital city?


Why do we have to fight for our rights again and again?


Why is it so that we have to think a hundred times before making Marathi compulsory in Maharashtra? Isn't this the same state, which was found on the basis of the Marathi language?

Then why can't we protect our language in our own state?


Why is it so hard to accept Marathi, when you live in Maharashtra from years?


Why is it that, people who live in Maharashtra for more than 20 years can't speak in Marathi?

Please don't right any thing offensive.
This is just a discussion point.