In a landmark achievement for Maharashtra, the Marathi language has been officially granted classical language status by the Union Cabinet. This long-awaited recognition has come after a six-decade struggle led by Marathi speakers, scholars, and cultural advocates. The efforts of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his government played a crucial role in securing this honour at the national level.
The status of a classical language brings several advantages, such as increased funding for the promotion of Marathi, establishment of research centres, and support for initiatives to preserve its legacy. With this recognition, Marathi joins other classical languages like Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, and Odia, underscoring its historical and literary significance.
Reacting to the recognition, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, “Finally, our beloved Marathi has been granted the status of a classical language! A long-standing battle has come to fruition. The Maharashtra government continuously lobbied with the Centre for this recognition. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Union Minister for Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for honoring our beloved language. Many Marathi speakers, thinkers, language scholars, writers, and critics contributed to this achievement, and we sincerely thank them as well.”
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis echoed these sentiments, expressing deep gratitude to the central government. He remarked, “The Union Cabinet has taken a historic decision to grant classical status to the Marathi language. On behalf of the 12 crore people of Maharashtra, I extend heartfelt thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all the honorable ministers. We have been pursuing this recognition since my tenure as Chief Minister, and under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, we continued our efforts. The contributions of scholars who highlighted works like Leelacharitra, Dnyaneshwari, and Viveksindhu were crucial in proving that Marathi truly deserves this status. I sincerely thank them.”
Fadnavis also added, “This honour for our beloved language on the first day of Navratri brings immense joy. I congratulate all Marathi-speaking people in Maharashtra and around the world. The recognition will pave the way for enhanced funding and support from the central government for the holistic development of Marathi.”
This recognition has been widely celebrated across Maharashtra, marking the end of a 60-year-long campaign. It promises to usher in a new era for the language, ensuring its preservation and growth for generations to come.
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