Marathi wins in Mumbai's monsoon madness—and Maharashtrian mulgi gives competition to Malaika

The Print

4 days ago

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the state cabinet has decided to scrap government resolutions to introduce Hindi as a third language for Class 1 students. 'Our policy is Marathi-centric and Marathi student-centric,' said the CM. In English.
I was planning to write this column in Hindi. Just to bug the Cousins T. They are easy to bug. Everything bugs these guys.
Just asking. When did Mumbai, the juicy hapus mango, turn into a sadela karela —bitter and hard to digest?
Promptly, the Cousins T called off a protest rally and announced a 'victory procession.' That should show 'em. They thundered: 'No 'linguistic imposition' in our schools, okay?'
Please note: other impositions will be ignored.
CM Fadnavis shrewdly backed down, adding, 'But as usual, when in power speak differently. When out of power, speak differently'—referring to senior cousin's recommendations in 2020 to adopt the National Education Policy.
But when neither is in power, nor entirely out of power…? Speak in many tongues.
Marathi is my mother tongue. I am proud of Marathi. It's a beautiful language. I love Hindi equally. Bambaiya Hindi, the most. It's a language by itself—chatpati as dahi missal and vada pav. Bambaiya reflects Mumbai's ethos at its richest: flavoursome, eccentric, untamed, and in a state of constant flux.
Climb into any compartment on a local fast train… and feast your ears. New words, irreverent slang, abuses, and gaalis in multiple dialects—you'll hear them all. A new 'item' each day. Just like our laminated menus proudly displayed by handcart owners, offering everything from 'Jain sushi' to 'vegan momos' and 'anda-bhurji pizzas.' Delicious and wicked. Irresistible and entirely unhealthy—like the world's best street food, and street speak.
From Yasmin Shaikh to Amruta Fadnavis
If Cousins T are indeed serious about reconnecting toddlers to Marathi, perhaps they should appeal to Yasmin Shaikh, an acclaimed grammarian and Marathi language expert. Yasmin Shaikh, who lives in Pune, turned 100 recently. For seven decades she has championed Marathi and regards language as an inheritance that must be preserved.
She spent years teaching Marathi in Mumbai's classrooms, and says with a light laugh that students would walk out on hearing her name, thinking they had mistakenly entered an English or Urdu class! 'Language has no religion,' says Yasmin, born Jerusha into a Jewish family.
Cousins T should make sure the definitive book titled Shabdelkhan Kosh (a foundational reference on how to use Marathi), authored by this remarkable lady, is widely distributed to schools across the state.
Meanwhile, our eyes are on the increasingly luscious First Lady of Maharashtra, Amruta Fadnavis, and her daring 'airport looks'—clad in form-fitting athleisure wear. The sort frequently sported by Malaika Arora and Shilpa Shetty. But not Madhuri Dixit. Or more conservative behenji stars.
We love it! Here's a Maharashtrian mulgi, boldly flaunting her curves and breaking all the fuddy-duddy vahini rules—one figure-hugging outfit at a time.
Mumbai is soooo Umrao Jaan.
In my hyper-romantic eyes, I see Mumbai as the eternal courtesan — alluring, seductive, enigmatic. Like Umrao, Mumbai's mystique is eternal. Patrons, pimps, and fickle lovers have tried to possess her — with little success.
Mumbai is not a heartless harlot ready to go to the highest bidder. She is Umrao Jaan. And like Umrao, Mumbai deserves better.
On a side note: The red carpet event celebrating the re-release of the iconic film starring Rekha delighted social media, with the leading lady exuberantly cavorting with high-profile guests.
Methinks the naach-gaana dented the mystique a wee bit. Some legends should remain elusive and out of reach.
Mumbai's monsoon madness is on! It's great to rhapsodise over the lashing rain from the safety and comfort of home. The unspeakable mess out there has to be experienced to understand the stoic beast that's the Mumbaikar.
I'm certain Mumbai's notorious potholes are visible to Shux and the crew of the ISS, even if borders remain invisible. Mumbai's road craters claim several lives a year. But the BMC, possibly one of the richest municipalities in the world, shrugs off all responsibility and swiftly passes the buck to 'corrupt road contractors.'
Errr… guess who appoints them?
Twelve new bills will be tabled during the monsoon session amid the usual hungama. Storm clouds are gathering ominously as the Mahayuti government prepares to face a tidal wave of accusations.
Time to pull on those gumboots, open huge umbrellas, wear protective raincoats, and wade right into the swirling waters of dissent.
Jai Maharashtra!
Shobhaa De is an author, columnist, social commentator, and opinion-shaper. She has written 20 books. She tweets @DeShobhaa. Views are personal.
(Edited by Prashant)