Classical status to Marathi sparks a renaissance for the language

 

 

 

The biggest challenge Marathi faces today is the growing dominance of English in education, business, and technology. While globalisation has brought English into everyday life, efforts must be made to ensure that Marathi does not lose its significance. Government, literary organisations, and scholars must work together to preserve its literary wealth and transmission to next generations. The Hitavada reached out to litterateurs to understand their perspective as what now needs to be done post recognition of Marathi as a classical language. They were confident that the Marathi language will stand the test of time but needs to be preserved and nurtured by the upcoming generations to let it flourish further.

 

“Marathi has been granted the status of a classical language based on its rich literary and historical legacy. However, the essence of being “Classical” is not just about antiquity but also about literary excellence. In the 21st century, an era driven by knowledge, science, and technology, Marathi stands as a classical language, signifying that its literature holds artistic and intellectual finesse. At the same time, it continues to be both a language of knowledge and a people’s language,” opined Dr Rajendra Naikwade, Professor, Department of Marathi, Shri Binzani City College. What next? What happens to the language that is still not used in schools and colleges as the primary or even the secondary language. “For the common person, livelihood and financial stability are paramount,” said Dr Sunil Ramteke, Professor and Head, Postgraduate Marathi Department, SNDT Women’s University. He further elaborated, “The classical status will now allow substantial funding from the Central Government for such initiatives. Marathi should become a compulsory subject in all universities across India. Professors should be appointed nationwide to teach it, and technical education should be given in Marathi.

 

A new Marathi university has already been established, further propelling this mission.”. While speaking about the generations to come, he said, "The younger generation must be successfully brought back to Marathi. Strict decisions will have to be made at the government level; a hesitant approach will not suffice. Marathi should be made compulsory in English-medium schools too." On why the Marathi language is not treated as a language of the youth Dr Akshay Kumar Kale, President, 90th Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan and retd Prof and HOD, dept of Marathi RTMNU, observes, “Our children should have excellent knowledge of Marathi language if we wish to preserve its ‘Abhijaat’ status. Students who complete their education in English medium schools and colleges, who need to travel across the country in search of jobs and opportunities, could be the reason why Marathi language does not resonate with the youth today”.

 

Dr Naikwade opined on the steps needed for the preservation “Literary organisations and the numerous government institutions established for the preservation and promotion of Marathi language and literature must actively work towards this goal. Modern audio-visual media, social media platforms, and education policies—such as the National Education Policy, which emphasises Indian languages and promotes curriculum development in them—must be leveraged to ensure that the greatness and classical stature of Marathi reach young Marathi speakers.”. The task of making Marathi a language of the youth or the language for the upcoming generations seems to be humongous; all the litterateurs held the same opinion, Dr Naikwade said, “Considering widespread influence of English across all fields today, this task may seem challenging. However, it is essential for survival of the language and literature and also for the preservation of culture and human values.”. Dr Ramteke shared his views with a different angle, “Marathi literary ‘market’ is worth crores of rupees. We must create similar new markets. Speaking Marathi with determination, courage, and confidence is essential.

 

As long as there are Marathi speakers, the language will not die. However, this alone is not enough. Creating jobs with use of Marathi for younger generation is crucial. Let us hope that the classical recognition of Marathi sparks a true renaissance for the language”. It is the responsibility of Marathi scholars and writers to convey this comprehensive and multidimensional essence of Classical literature to new generation. Preserving Marathi is not just about protecting a language but also about preserving cultural identity. Its Classical status is a reminder of its greatness. It’s a collective responsibility to ensure that it thrives.