Latest news with #Mahamandal
The Hindu
05-08-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
From The Hindu, August 6, 1925: Gandhiji on Ayurvedic physicians
Cawnpore, Aug. 5: The All-India Ayurveda Mahamandal has passed a resolution protesting against Gandhiji's remarks on Ayurvedic physicians, in a recent issue of 'Young India', that the majority of them are mere quacks and have no humility in them. The Mahamandal regrets that the statement should have emanated from the President of the very body (the Congress) which every year urges that the indigenous system of medicine should be revived and encouraged throughout the country.
Hindustan Times
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal welcomes rollback of GRs making Hindi mandatory from class 1
The Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal has welcomed the Maharashtra government's decision to withdraw two controversial Government Resolutions (GRs) that made Hindi or other Indian languages compulsory from Class 1 in schools across the state. The decision was announced by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday, following sustained opposition from political parties and language advocacy groups. The GRs had sparked sharp criticism from writers, educators, and civil society groups. (HT) Milind Joshi, president of the Mahamandal, said the rollback was a much-needed correction in favour of Maharashtra's linguistic and cultural interests. 'This is a decision in the interest of Maharashtra and its students. We wholeheartedly congratulate the Chief Minister and the government for withdrawing the GRs,' Joshi said. The Mahamandal had been protesting against the two GRs issued by the state's school education department earlier this year. These GRs, issued in the name of promoting multilingualism, made it mandatory for schools to learn Hindi or any other Indian language from Class 1, sparking concerns among Marathi language advocates who saw it as an encroachment on the primacy of Marathi in the state's curriculum. He also pointed out that it was Fadnavis himself who had played a key role in making the teaching of Marathi compulsory in all schools in the state. 'We hope he continues to take decisions that protect the rights of Marathi-speaking students and strengthen the use of Marathi in public life,' he added. The GRs had sparked sharp criticism from writers, educators, and civil society groups, who argued that such a policy would disadvantage Marathi students and medium, and was out of sync with the state's linguistic identity. In recent months, the Mahamandal had issued public statements, written to education department officials, and participated in awareness campaigns highlighting the implications of the GRs. Following the rollback, several educationists and parent groups have also voiced support for the decision, calling it a welcome step toward preserving the balance in the state's multilingual education framework. 'We welcome the government's decision to withdraw both GRs instead of just amending the clause that made Hindi or any third language compulsory from Classes 1 to 5, as demanded unanimously across Maharashtra,' said Sripad Bhalchandra Joshi, former president of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal and convenor of Marathichya Vyapak Hitasaathi (Movement for the Larger Interests of Marathi). However, Joshi cautioned that there is a real danger the government will now attempt to push the same idea—of making a third language compulsory—through committees filled only with hand-picked 'experts' from within the ruling political fold.
Hindustan Times
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal to join protest against language imposition
The Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal on Saturday announced its participation in a protest rally scheduled for July 5 in Mumbai, opposing the government's decision to introduce Hindi or other Indian languages as compulsory subjects from Class 1 onwards. The announcement was made by the Mahamandal president, Prof Milind Joshi. Joshi pointed out that although the education minister had earlier announced a pause on implementing the language policy, the State government later issued an official notice reaffirming its April 16 decision. Joshi noted that this was done without consulting education experts, language advocacy organisations, or the state's own language advisory committee. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO) Joshi, however, clarified that the rally is not affiliated with any political party. 'The Mahamandal has no political interest. Our sole objective is to protect the Marathi language and ensure it continues to thrive with pride. We are not against any language, but we oppose the imposition of any language,' he said. He also pointed out that although the education minister had earlier announced a pause on implementing the language policy, the State government later issued an official notice reaffirming its April 16 decision. Joshi noted that this was done without consulting education experts, language advocacy organisations, or the state's own language advisory committee. 'This disregard for expert opinion and scientific research on language learning highlights the government's insensitivity towards Marathi-speaking citizens,' he said. He further stressed that introducing a third language at the primary level adds a cognitive burden on children, who already struggle with Marathi and English. 'At such a young age, students perceive any non-native language as foreign, and it hinders learning. Child psychology supports this view,' he explained. 'Even though Marathi and English are mandatory up to Class 10, many students in Class 8 still struggle with reading in their second language,' Joshi said.
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Row over Hindi: Marathi literary body opposes three-language formula
The Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal, an apex Marathi literary body, has opposed the Maharashtra government's decision to adopt a three-language formula for classes 1 to 5, claiming the New Education Policy does not recommend it. The Mahamandal's statement came on Wednesday (June 18, 2025) amid opposition from the Congress and Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena to an amended government order issued on Tuesday which said Hindi would "generally" be a third language for these classes. "It is clearly mentioned [in NEP] that a third language should be introduced from Class 6," a release from the Mahamandal said. It also questioned the need to teach a third language when many schools do not have enough teachers, and students of higher classes struggle to read Marathi books of Class 2 level. "Instead of improving the quality of education, attempts are being made to make a third language compulsory," it claimed. Though the state government has provided that students can opt for any other Indian language instead of Hindi, it would be practically impossible as teachers of these languages will have to be brought from a respective state which is very difficult, it said. The Mahamandal claimed its opposition to Hindi was for cultural reasons as Hindi's "invasion" of Marathi was increasing. It also asked why the Maharashtra government has adopted such a policy when Hindi is not compulsory from Class 1 in any other State. A government resolution (GR) issued on Tuesday said Hindi will "generally" be a third language, instead of being mandatory, but gave an option to opt out if 20 students per grade in a school express the desire to study any other Indian language. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said, "We had earlier made Hindi compulsory, but in the GR issued yesterday, that compulsion has been removed... students can now opt for any Indian language as a third language."
Deccan Herald
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Row over Hindi: Marathi literary body opposes three-language formula for Classes 1 to 5
The Mahamandal's statement came amid opposition from Congress and Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena to an amended government order which said Hindi would "generally" be a third language for these classes.
