Marathi to be made language of employment and global recognition: Eknath Shinde

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister CM Eknath Shinde on Friday clarified that the state government is committed to ensuring that Marathi becomes not only a language of culture but also a language of economy and employmentSpeaking at a special programme titled lsquoJave VinodachyaGaonrsquo organised in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on the occasion of Marathi Language Gaurav Day Shinde outlined concrete policy measures for the preservation and promotion of the language news agency ANI reported These include updating and creating encyclopedias organising literary conferences and enhancing the use of Marathi in government functioningThe programme was attended by CM Devendra Fadnavis Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe along with Deputy Speaker Anna Bansode ministers Chandrakant Patil Uday Samant legislators and public representativesAddressing the gathering Shinde said that the Marathi language is a sacred stream carrying thousands of years of cultural traditionQuoting the line ldquoWe are fortunate Marathi speaks to usrdquo he paid tribute to poet Kusumagraj and extended his greetings to saints poets writers scholars teachers and researchersThe deputy CM said that Marathi is the identity flowing through the veins of MaharashtraMaking efforts to establish Marathi as effective language of business across sectors Eknath ShindeShinde thanked the Central government and recalled that the state has consistently pursued the demand to grant Marathi the status of a classical language He said a ldquocrown of honourrdquo has now been placed upon Marathi and stressed that promoting education and learning in the mother tongue is the need of the hour ANI reportedHe clarified that the government is making efforts to establish Marathi as an effective language of business across sectors At the policy level steps are being taken to translate outstanding Marathi literary works into other languages increase its use in administration and promote it as a language of income generation He appealed to citizens to contribute through small but meaningful efforts towards creating an ldquoocean of successrdquo for MarathiReferring to the technological era Shinde said Marathi has adapted itself to changing times and is visible in various forms on social media platforms Calling the diversity of dialects the strength of the language he mentioned Khandeshi Malvani Konkani and Varhadi among others and urged people to use available resources effectively to enhance Marathirsquos global recognitionHe further said that the government is updating entries in the encyclopedia and working on a childrenrsquos encyclopedia a Kumar encyclopedia and an Olympic encyclopedia Through the World Marathi Literature Conference a global platform is being created for Marathi he said adding that efforts are underway to connect Marathispeaking people across the worldShinde also said that the tradition of Marathi humour was showcased through the lsquoJave Vinodka Gaonrsquo programme organised ahead of the legislative assembly session He referred to the distinctive humour of Acharya Atre and PL Deshpande stating that the Marathi person who finds humour even in adversity reflects the true spirit of the communityWith the emotional assertion ldquoMarathi in my blood Marathi in my breathrdquo the deputy CM reaffirmed his resolve to carry forward the rich heritage of Marathi with renewed vigour on the occasion of Marathi Language Gaurav Day He called upon everyone to work unitedly to keep the flag of Marathi flying high across the seas and conveyed his greetings on the occasionWith ANI inputs