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Amid rising controversy over the three-language policy in Maharashtra, she lashed out at what she known as the “language Dadagiri” being carried out in Mumbai within the title of Marathi pleasure.
Criticising the current actions and rhetoric of Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, De added that each events are weaponising language for electoral survival.
Chatting with Rajdeep Sardesai, De mentioned the renewed row over the imposition of Marathi is a “manufactured distraction” forward of essential civic elections. “That is all about political irrelevance. The warring cousins have all of a sudden found their love for Marathi forward of elections,” she mentioned.
The controversy was triggered after an MNS employee allegedly slapped a gross sales worker from Jodhpur for not talking Marathi. De strongly condemned the act, calling it “cowardly” and “a cognisable offence.”
She mentioned that imposing language by means of violence is just not acceptable and goes in opposition to the spirit of Mumbai.
“Marathi needs to be learnt with respect and pleasure, not thrust upon folks aggressively,” she mentioned. Referring to Article 19 of the Structure, she reminded that each Indian has the fitting to talk the language of their alternative, and no political social gathering can dictate in any other case.
De, who recognized herself as a proud Maharashtrian lady, mentioned that whereas she grew up talking Marathi and stays deeply related to her roots, she firmly opposes utilizing language as a political device. “You can’t do language Dadagiri within the title of Marathi Manus pleasure,” she mentioned.
Addressing the broader narrative round outsiders versus locals, particularly the declare that Maharashtrians are being decreased to a minority in Mumbai, De mentioned that this sense of grievance was not new however had at all times been rooted in insecurity and narrow-minded politics.
She recalled the time when South Indians had been focused many years in the past and known as such assaults “unacceptable.”
“Mumbai is a cauldron, a melting pot. It has at all times been constructed by folks from throughout India. It’s the migrants who work on constructing websites, drive the financial system, and make the town what it’s,” she famous.
Requested concerning the rising Hindi-Marathi tensions regardless of Mumbai being the hub of the Hindi movie business, De mentioned this problem has little to do with cinema or tradition and every part to do with politics.
“It’s about equating Hindutva with Hindi. That’s harmful,” she added. She additionally dismissed MNS chief Raj Thackeray’s assertion “I’m Hindu, not Hindi,” calling it theatrics.
De pointed to the backlash the MNS had confronted when it tried to push Marathi cinema throughout prime slots in multiplexes up to now, calling it “one other political stunt that backfired.” She argued that if political leaders really cared about Marathi, they need to spend money on enhancing the standard of training and selling the language with dignity and inclusivity.
Highlighting the instance of 100-year-old Marathi grammarian Yasmin Sheikh, De mentioned, “She reminds us that language doesn’t recognise faith. She is the pleasure of Pune, and we must always observe her instance to uplift Marathi – not by means of hooliganism.”
Responding to the view that demographic adjustments threaten Marathi tradition in Mumbai, De mentioned migration was a actuality in a rustic like India, the place folks transfer for work.
“Can we cease Maharashtrians from going to different states for jobs?” she requested, including that language imposition is not any answer to financial challenges.
Concluding her remarks, she mentioned that political events utilizing language to stoke concern and id crises are doing so as a result of they’ve little else to supply. “If the cousins have one thing to present to the folks of Mumbai, allow them to present it. However don’t divide us with language. That received’t work.”
– Ends
