Mumbai, October 3 (Daily Kiran) : Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declared on Saturday that Marathi is not merely a medium of communication but a carrier of rich culture and a witness to a glorious history. He emphasized that the language, with its vast vocabulary and literary heritage, is set to become a powerful digital and knowledge language in the 21st century.
Fadnavis highlighted the need to enhance the everyday use of Marathi while also promoting its application in modern fields such as artificial intelligence, digital technology, quantum computing, space technology, and biotechnology. His remarks came during the launch of the ‘Classical Marathi Language Week’ and ‘Classical Marathi Language Honor Day,’ celebrating Marathi’s recent recognition as a classical language.
He expressed pride in the central government’s acknowledgment, stating that this recognition is a moment of pride for all Marathi speakers. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the elevation of Marathi to classical status has brought national recognition to Maharashtra’s linguistic and cultural heritage.
Recalling historical figures, Fadnavis noted that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj emphasized the importance of language alongside his vision for self-governance. He pointed out Shivaji’s efforts to promote Marathi within state administration and governance.
Marathi ranks as the 13th most spoken language globally. Fadnavis underscored its international presence, referencing the Marathi encyclopedia and word collections from the 20th century, which contain between 1.1 to 1.3 million words. In comparison, he mentioned that the Oxford English Dictionary has about 600,000 words, while languages like Mandarin, Spanish, and French contain around 300,000 to 350,000 words.
Currently, the official Marathi dictionary published by the state government comprises approximately 300,000 words. Fadnavis stressed the need to expand this vocabulary to 1.3 million words in future editions.
The Chief Minister emphasized that this extensive vocabulary should not just be a source of pride but should be effectively utilized in modern knowledge creation. He argued that providing concepts related to science, technology, economics, education, and research in Marathi will truly transform it into a language of knowledge.
Fadnavis noted that digital technology is rapidly changing communication methods. He urged that Marathi should not remain confined to traditional usage but should be integrated with new technologies. He called for increasing the presence of the language in artificial intelligence, making knowledge resources available on digital platforms, and creating high-quality Marathi content for OTT platforms and social media.
He expressed confidence that providing knowledge resources in cutting-edge fields like quantum computing, space technology, and biotechnology will enable the younger generation to embrace modern knowledge in their mother tongue.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde added that Marathi is not only Maharashtra’s identity but also its self-respect. He stated that the rich heritage of Marathi, from Sant Dnyaneshwar to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has crossed oceans and made its mark worldwide.
Shinde affirmed the state government’s commitment to accelerating the global expansion of Marathi. He stressed the importance of increasing the use of Marathi in modern fields such as digital media, social networking, podcasts, gaming, and coding to connect with the younger generation.
Marathi Language Minister Uday Samant stated that the state government is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and expanding Marathi language and culture globally. Several ambitious initiatives have been launched for its comprehensive development, including establishing a ‘Center of Excellence’ for Marathi at Deccan University in Pune, a ‘Global Marathi Center’ in London named after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and 100 dictionaries for various regional dialects across the state, along with nine ‘Marathi Skill Development Centers.’
Leave a Comment