Every time I read current stories from India, regarding the Thackeray-marathi manoos things, I feel really uneasy. Wrong signals seem to be sent in every direction. This post is just my attempt to write down things going on about the issue in my head. So well there is a high chance that the output will be muddled.
The question that needs to be contemplated is this.
By Marathi, I mean people who are born, brought up in Maharashtra and speak-understand Marathi. The unrest is there, sad to say. Is it widespread? Not really. But when politicians want to brandish the parochial sword, there is real danger that the unrest will spread.
Simple example, these were the times when MNS wasn't formed. Advertisements for the Mumbai postings for Indian Railways weren't given in any of the local Marathi newspapers, but all the Bhojpuri-Hindi dainiks carried the news, (supposedly). No doubt this created unrest in the local population. Raj Thackeray wrote about the issue, managed to inflame people further, and then causing the infamous Sena backed ransacking on Railways Mumbai Office.
Why is the unrest there? Aren't we one nation? Well the demographics of Maharashtra, Mumbai in particular have changed a lot in the last 10 years. People will react when language that is different to the commonly prevalent ones, keep falling on their ears. I can state the example of my beloved Pune. I could not imagine a place in Pune where I would hear anything other than Marathi. But now like Mumbai, there is high chance that two strangers starting conversation, won't do it in Marathi. This is not a bad thing at all, but it sure as hell is different. And most people as a rule are resistant to change.
I know so many individuals who after spending their lives in Pune have picked up the language. In fact it's assumed that they will. But I doubt we can make those assumptions any further.
Marathi or Hindi? Hindi is our national language. I think most people in India know the language. I think Marathi people in general don't mind the rashtrabhasha, but I think people may be peeved when, the "outsiders" don't take up Marathi even after staying here for 10-15 years. It can't be Hindi at the cost of Marathi.
Anyways, in this global age how important these things are is debatable. For me I am glad that I know, have learnt English. Because ironically, I think that is the only language that truly binds our great nation. To each his own I guess.
The question that needs to be contemplated is this.
- Is there unrest amongst the Marathi population regarding "outsiders".
- The extent and possible reasons/solutions.
By Marathi, I mean people who are born, brought up in Maharashtra and speak-understand Marathi. The unrest is there, sad to say. Is it widespread? Not really. But when politicians want to brandish the parochial sword, there is real danger that the unrest will spread.
Simple example, these were the times when MNS wasn't formed. Advertisements for the Mumbai postings for Indian Railways weren't given in any of the local Marathi newspapers, but all the Bhojpuri-Hindi dainiks carried the news, (supposedly). No doubt this created unrest in the local population. Raj Thackeray wrote about the issue, managed to inflame people further, and then causing the infamous Sena backed ransacking on Railways Mumbai Office.
Why is the unrest there? Aren't we one nation? Well the demographics of Maharashtra, Mumbai in particular have changed a lot in the last 10 years. People will react when language that is different to the commonly prevalent ones, keep falling on their ears. I can state the example of my beloved Pune. I could not imagine a place in Pune where I would hear anything other than Marathi. But now like Mumbai, there is high chance that two strangers starting conversation, won't do it in Marathi. This is not a bad thing at all, but it sure as hell is different. And most people as a rule are resistant to change.
I know so many individuals who after spending their lives in Pune have picked up the language. In fact it's assumed that they will. But I doubt we can make those assumptions any further.
Marathi or Hindi? Hindi is our national language. I think most people in India know the language. I think Marathi people in general don't mind the rashtrabhasha, but I think people may be peeved when, the "outsiders" don't take up Marathi even after staying here for 10-15 years. It can't be Hindi at the cost of Marathi.
Anyways, in this global age how important these things are is debatable. For me I am glad that I know, have learnt English. Because ironically, I think that is the only language that truly binds our great nation. To each his own I guess.
