“The Pessimist Sees Difficulty In Every Opportunity. The Optimist Sees Opportunity In Every Difficulty.”

Joshi’s statement is viewed against the backdrop of the BJP-led government’s decision to make Marathi compulsory in primary and secondary schools affiliated with ICSE and CBSE boards. This decision is not unlike similar steps taken by several states across the country. The thinking is that the local language should be the language of the state and none can object to it. Political parties like the Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena have been aggressively pushing for the use of Marathi in official business. While larger parties like the Congress and the BJP had once upon a time were reserved in their championing of Marathi, at present, there is political consensus about Marathi, cutting across the party lines.

In a strong response to the storm created by Joshi’s remarks, Fadnavis has made it crystal clear that the state government’s position is firm about Marathi being the primary language and there is no compromise on this stand. To soften the reaction to Joshi’s observation, Fadnavis has gone further to renew the state government’s commitment to respecting and preserving Marathi as part of Maharashtra’s cultural heritage. His appeal to residents of Maharashtra to use Marathi in their daily activities is expected to generate positive response that it deserves.

Addressing a meeting, Joshi had also said, “Mumbai does not have one single language, Mumbai has many languages. Different localities have different languages. For example, the language of Ghatkopar is Gujarati. Similarly, you will find fewer people speaking Hindi in Girgaon, where  you find people speaking Marathi. There is no need for all people in Mumbai to know Marathi.”

Joshi’s remarks set off a chain reaction in political circles. The on-going legislature session was rocked by the storm as Marathi has long been associated with cultural and political identity as well as ethos of Maharashtra. The opposition immediately went on the offensive while the NDA government was forced to adopt a defensive stance. “Does the government endorse Bhayyaji Joshi’s statement?” was the pointed query and Fadnavis explained the state’s policy towards Marathi without mincing words. The government’s stand is that Marathi is “must” in Mumbai and Maharashtra, he declared. “We respect other languages. But there is no compromise on Marathi as every person living in Maharashtra should know and learn Marathi,” he made it clear, not living any scope for ambiguity.

As the free for all continued even afterwards, Joshi came out with another statement, saying that Marathi is Mumbai’s language and those coming from outside and speaking other languages should also understand and learn it. He said a misunderstanding had occurred due to his earlier statement and hence the clarification.

Occupying the second most important position in the RSS for a long time, Joshi had relinquished the responsibility owing to health issues a few years ago. Born and brought up in Indore in Madhya Pradesh, Joshi had spent considerable time in Thane city. Hence, his connection with Maharashtra and Marathi is quite strong. Making an emotional pitch, Joshi said, “My mother tongue is Marathi. But I also respect the existence of all languages.”

Marathi has played a crucial role in Mumbai’s development and is always at the centre of political clashes. There are frequent complaints that Hindi is dominating Marathi. Those are mostly misplaced as every successive government in Maharashtra has accorded full honour to Marathi. The feeling has heightened ever since the Union government has accorded a ‘classical’ status to Marathi just a few months ago. Prime Minister Narendra Modi only a fortnight ago paid respects to Marathi at the Sahitya Sammelan held in Delhi in February.

Despite these factors, there is a feeling among many proponents of Marathi that the language is given a secondary position by the Union government. As and when newspapers in Hindi or Gujarati language are kept at the airport, there is instant adverse reaction. As a result, announcements at the airport are now made in Marathi as well.

Although such arguments are made and heard, no responsible leader or party has ever dreamt of making Mumbai a Union Territory. On the contrary, each one has declared any such possibility as absurd. In short, Mumbai, Maharashtra and Marathi have an embryonic relationship, which can’t be impaired by some irresponsible acts or statements. Still, political scores are settled on such occasions.

However, it is a fact that the Marathi ‘takka’ (percentage) in Mumbai has been dwindling. Census figures over the past half a century are a testimony to this reality. Those professing concern for Mumbai need to study such factors through an unbiased eye. Similarly, they have to acknowledge the fact that mega cities like Bengaluru or Hyderabad in south India or Kolkata in the east or Delhi are experiencing parallel population demographics.

Another relevant but touchy issue is the role played by various political figures in Mumbai’s population shift. It is a reality that a large number of Marathi speaking families have shifted towards north in Mumbai itself and the metropolitan region, purely on economic grounds. No concerted effort has been ever made to retain this ethnic group in its original place of residence. This especially applies to the vanishing textile mills, whose lands have been redeveloped to accommodate posh housing towers and glittering malls, multiplexes and expensive restaurants. The original residents, mostly textile mill workers, are still fighting to get a small tenement in Mumbai, but in vain, at least so far.

Let none forget that they, too, are Marathi speaking and have equal right over Mumbai. When that happens, that will be the true homage to Marathi in Mumbai.