‘Tera desh hai, jo marzi kar': Haryana man comforts worker from Maharashtra amid language debate, wins the Internet

Indian Express

11-07-2025

In the midst of ongoing language-related tensions in Maharashtra, a video from Haryana is cutting through the noise, striking a powerful chord online, and reminding people of the bigger picture: unity over regionalism.
The clip, which has gone viral over the last couple of days, features an interaction between Manu Sharma – a Haryanvi man – and a young man from Nashik, Maharashtra working in what looks like a farm. In the beginning of the video, Sharma is seen shouting, 'Who here is from Maharashtra?' When one of the workers walks up to him, responding to his question, Sharma says, 'Speak in Haryanvi!'
The youngster, slightly nervous, admits he doesn't know the language. But Sharma quickly flips the script, and says, 'This is your country. If you won't work here, who will? This is your nation – do whatever you want.'
Sharma shared the video on Instagram with the caption, 'Lo jee mil gaye Marathi Haryana mein' (Here, found a Marathi in Haryana).
A post shared by Manu Sharma (@notthatmanusharma)
The wholesome exchange has now been viewed over seven lakh times. The video is drawing praise for its message of inclusion and mutual respect, especially at a time when several disturbing videos from Maharashtra showed people who don't speak Marathi being harassed.
One Instagram user responded to the video saying, 'As a Marathi I apologise for this. Even in my office I see such bullishit… You know who brings such bullishit? People who are not from the city. Bhai IT company me sare manager and bade bade log Sharma, Mishra, Shukla he. Unke samne to ye log Hindi bolte he. And koi gareeb mila — Pani Puri wala ya Zomato wala — to dadagiri (Bro, in IT companies, all the managers and top-level people are Sharma, Mishra, Shukla. In front of them, these same people speak Hindi. But when they come across someone poor — like a pani puri vendor or a Zomato delivery guy — they act like bullies). I personally say sorry from Maharashtra to the whole country. God bless you all.'
Another wrote, 'Perfect way to teach the basics that many states in our country seem to have forgotten!' A third said, 'Well done. That's the spirit. Every Marathi should learn this.'
This video comes just days after a similar one shot in Gujarat also went viral. A content creator conducting street interviews openly admitted, 'Main Gujarat mein reh raha hun, par mujhe Gujarati nahi aati' (I live in Gujarat, but I don't know Gujarati).
Yet every person he spoke to responded with warmth and willingness to continue in Hindi — a small gesture, but a telling one.