Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the shared cultural heritage of Indian languages would give a befitting reply to those making efforts to create divisions in the country in the name of languages.
“Embracing all languages is our collective responsibility,” he said, inaugurating the 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan here. Indian languages had always accepted each other and enriched each other. “There has been no hostility among Indian languages,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s remarks come amid a war of words between the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre over the implementation of the National Education Policy and the three-language formula.
Linguistic diversity
Mr. Modi said his government looked at all languages as “mainstream”. India was one of the world’s oldest living civilisations because it had consistently evolved, embraced new ideas, and welcomed changes. India’s vast linguistic diversity was a testament to this evolution and served as a fundamental basis for unity, the Prime Minister said.
Comparing language to a mother who imparted new and vast knowledge to her children without discrimination, he added that language embraced every idea and every development.
“Marathi has borrowed literature from all Indian languages and has in return enriched them as well. Indian languages have always accepted and enriched each other,” he said.
“That is why we are looking at every language in the country as a mainstream language. We are encouraging education in all languages, including Marathi,” he said.
The Prime Minister mentioned that now, youth in Maharashtra could pursue higher education, engineering, and medical studies in Marathi. He emphasised that the mindset of neglecting talents due to the lack of English proficiency had changed.
The 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan will conclude on February 23.
The Marathi literary gathering is being held in the national capital after 71 years. It includes a symbolic literary train journey from Pune to Delhi, carrying 1,200 participants, showcasing the unifying spirit of literature. It will feature over 2,600 poetry submissions, 50 book launches, and 100 bookstalls, among others. Distinguished scholars, authors, poets, and literature enthusiasts from across the country will participate.
Among those who spoke at the event were Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Nationalist Congress Party (S-P) leader Sharad Pawar.
