Bank of Maharashtra decides to go Marathi

Following the Shiv Sena's diktat, Bank of Maharashtra agrees to implement Marathi in its daily affairs and communication of the bank

Bank of Maharashtra decides to go Marathi

Following the Shiv Sena's diktat, Bank of Maharashtra agrees to implement Marathi in its daily affairs and communication of the bank

If you want to open an account in the Bank of Maharashtra, which has the largest network of branches by any Public sector bank in the state, then you better take a crash course in Marathi.

This is because the Shiv Sena has forced the management of Bank of Maharashtra to toe its line and implement Marathi language in day to day affairs and communication in the bank. Needless to say, the bank has agreed to go the Sena way.

Of course, it does not mean that if a request is made to the bank for supplying account opening forms or other documents in Hindi or English, it will be denied but nevertheless preference certainly will be given to Marathi.

Hence, it is better to brush up your language as now language has become an issue of Marathi asmita in this banku00a0-- thanks to an agitation which the Shiv Sena launched at the headquarters of the Bank of Maharashtra at Shivajinagar on December 17.

Waman Bhosale, secretary, Federation of Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti Mahasangh, a wing of the Sena, said, "We are not opposing the usage of Hindi or English in the bank, but the fact is that Marathi is being sidelined here, hence we want preference to be given to the local language."

Ashok Jadhav, general secretary of the Bank of Maharashtra Karmachari Sena, the workers wing of the Sena, said, "We have submitted a letter to the general manager of the bank asking that the name plates, various forms and other documents in the bank should be made available in Marathi. If this does not happen in the next 15 days, then we will be forced to launch an agitation."

Sena also wants a huge oil painting of Shivaji be placed next to the paintings of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi in the lobby of the bank.