Its called "sons of soil" i.e. you always belong to where you were born. In this context, I don’t blame Jaya Bacchan when she called herself “ U.P. wali” but the statement to come from a respectable citizen and an MP, I think its totally shameful and should be condemned. It was funny to see various Marathi News Channels making Raj Thackeray a hero and Hindi News Channels just taking an exact opposite stance. Also, it was good to see many Marathi politicians now using Marathi in their press conferences. Amitabh Bacchan expressed apologies immediately, but I wonder what his stand would have been if “The Last Lear” was not to be released during this period. Even then his diplomatic words were “IF we have hurt sentiments then we are sorry!"
India is unique not in its plurality but the way all diversified units have integrated. But the question remains how far independence or isolation one should have within this system. Simply put - how much can someone be possessive about his own culture within our National Integrity. The battle of Marathi & Non Marathi raises this question once again.
In principle, one finds two extreme views, however practically one has to always take the middle way. In this ongoing battle, it’s funny to see some Political Parties taking mileage out of it and others taking a very cautious approach by just standing on the by lines.
It’s now said that MNS leader Raj Thakeray had no other option to project his political image so he had to go back to the very issue on which SHIVSENA has worked and thrived so well. As far as the Parties like Congress and NCP were more or less acting as spectators. The Big B was involved by MNS and the saga is very famous. Between this the fight of Abu Asim Azami and Raj Thakeray is very entertaining. By the way what is it with Mr.Azmi, does he opposes for the sake of it?
Having said all this there are some basic questions to which I have to find answers. First of all we are in a typical environment where despite all the diversity, we all have to work together for our National Progress. But with this in mind whether we should remember our regional culture or not. When Mr. P. Chidambaram wears his traditional outfits to attend Parliament, isn’t thatbeing parochial or making some sort of regional statement?
But the main issue is when there are so many people moving within the country then how one is suppose to protect regional culture? It baffles me, that if we have a OFFICIAL language (and NOT National Language) then why is that our IAS officers are forced to learn regional languages? (Apparently an IAS officer does not get an increment if he has not learned the local language!!) Also when we have to protect our culture, is it not necessary to use those languages as much as we can? When we go to countries like US and UK we are forced to write an English language test! So even they are bothered about their own languages!! Our politicians have always lacked the vision to see into the future and that’s why I think those who are not supporting the language issue are not realizing that if this continues a day will come when many of our languages would be extinct. I fail to see why is that if you insist speaking in Marathi its such a huge issue, it’s a common sense that whenever one changes his environment he has to adapt accordingly. So when one person shifts from UP, Bihar or any parts of the country he has to learn to respect the culture of the place where he has chosen to reside and vice versa. No doubt our Constitution gives us right move and reside in any parts of the Country. But I think it has to be our duty to protect the diversified culture of our country.
It’s funny how people are giving stupid comments regarding this issue. One of the Local Leader of Samajwadi Party said (rather sarcastically) why not make Marathi a National language? I never heard people like K. S. Singh (Mumbai Congress President) and noted advocate Mr. Majid Menon use Marathi in their interview!!
When Hindi was proposed as our National Language, South States made a great opposition to it. Although it was more of political opposition rather than cultural one. It raised one important point, one which still does not have a proper answer- Do we make our regional languages extinct for sake of having a national language? We have to respect the local languages not merely to protect those languages but with each language, a distinct culture is also attached.
In the debate of “Marathi” name board episode, it garnered a lot of attention and I don’t know where is the problem if one has to use the language of local people who give one his bread. It’s ironical that people from all over country come to Mumbai to earn their livelihood but they seem to have no respect towards local culture and traditions. Marathi people have embraced not only people from across the country but even their cultures; take the example of Dandiya of Gujrat, Durga Puja of Bengal etc. But when debates surrounding use of Marathi arises then it makes me think if Marathi gets its own due in its own Land!
You cannot force someone to embrace culture but one has to at least show some willingness to adapt to his surroundings. With single aim of being noticed at global stage, let’s not forget our roots, let’s not forget our culture and let’s not leave these languages to rot and die.
N. D. K. Nikhil
