The politics of Maharashtra is once again seen in waves of language feelings. Refraining the question of Marathi Asmita to the center, Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray have adopted a similar tone against the alleged ‘imposing’ Hindi language. This development has not only warmed the linguistic politics of the state, but has also brought the Thackeray brothers standing against each other for years under the common political objective.
By the way, there has been opposition to the Hindi language from Raj Thackeray and his party. Especially in a metropolis like Mumbai, where Hindi-speaking population is in large numbers, there is a feeling in the minds of Marathi-speaking society that their cultural identity and language is slowly being marginalized. Raj Thackeray’s MNS has earlier launched campaigns against auto rickshaw drivers and multilingual shops, targeting Hindi speakers. At the same time, Shiv Sena was established on the politics of ‘Marathi Manush’, although in later years it went ahead in national politics and alliances. The way both brothers roar from the same platform after two decades, it is natural for the Hindi speakers to create apprehensions about security, so the Maharashtra government needs to be more vigilant now.
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Today, both cousins Uddhav and Raj have come together and made a new beginning in Maharashtra politics. Let us tell you that till now political families have been seen distributing in Maharashtra, but the initiative that the Thackeray has taken together is even to the Pawar family, now everyone’s eyes will remain on it. In today’s rally, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray through their speech should also give many big things somewhere but they should also answer some legitimate questions.
1. The first question is why the Hindi which has the status of official language in the Constitution is being spread against it?
2. The second question is that the Hindi cinema industry which the Mumbai cinema industry got the unique identity and which is not a double attitude to oppose Hindi in the Hindi cinema industry which is like the backbone of the economy of Maharashtra? Films need earning from Hindi belt, but if a person of the same Hindi belt speaks Hindi in Maharashtra, will his belt be beaten?
3. The third question is that from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to all other Maratha heroes expanded their empire to the north and south, but why do Uddhav and Raj want to keep the Marathas in the narrow realm?
Uddhav and Raj, who came with the pretext of opposition to Hindi, should understand that Hindi is the third most spoken language globally. It has become a symbol of India’s cultural soft power. Indians also consider Hindi to be the door connecting Hindi to their origin. Uddhav and Raj, who is celebrating the victory of Marathi language over Hindi, should understand that Hindi is not just a language, but an integral part of India’s cultural, social and historical identity.
Hindi opponents like Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, who have lost public support, should remove the confusion of their mind that Hindi is an opposing language, they should understand that Hindi is a collaborative language. It is never imposed on anyone, but on the strength of its utility, access and intimacy, it is created in the public. Hindi is a language that coordinates very easily with other languages while maintaining the linguistic diversity of India. Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, who came together to fulfill political selfishness, should understand that Hindi is a flexible and inclusive language that assimilates the words of other languages. It has a wonderful ability to assimilate Sanskrit, Urdu, Persian, English, Bengali, regional dialects and even English words.
Uddhav and Raj Thackeray should understand that Hindi is not the language of suppressing or removing anyone by raising issues that share their politics by raising the issues connecting the country and society, instead of raising the issues dividing the society, but it is the language of couple. It puts the Indian philosophy of ‘unity in diversity’. Uddhav and Raj Thackeray should understand that Hindi is the voice of the soul of India, it is the dialect of the farmer, the order of the soldier, the imagination of the poet and the medium of the common man who wants to join the whole country. It is real Indianness to understand, adopt and respect it. Today, those who are dancing together on Uddhav and Raj Thackeray coming together, should also understand that cousins have joined each other, but you have disturbed you in the name of language and separated from their neighbors and their colleagues.
However, as far as coming with Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, let us tell you that the two leaders coming together are not just linguistic concern, but a deep political strategy is hidden in it. Uddhav Thackeray is trying to re -establish the image of his ‘real Shiv Sena’ afresh after separating from the BJP and dividing the Shiv Sena on behalf of Eknath Shinde. At the same time, Raj Thackeray has also been looking for political revival for a long time and the issue of Marathi identity is the easiest option for him. If seen, “Hindi opposition” is a platform for both, where they are once again trying to activate the emotional connection of the Marathi voter, especially keeping in mind the Mumbai Metropolitan Municipality (BMC) elections.
(The author has his own views in this article.)