Latest news with #MaharashtraMandal
India Today
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Over 50 Marathi schools in US to get support from Maharashtra government
As Marathi continues to be taught in community-run schools across the United States, Maharashtra's Minister for Information Technology and Cultural Affairs, Ashish Shelar, has assured formal support from the state WITH BAY AREA MANDALDuring a recent visit to the Bay Area in San Francisco, Ashish Shelar met with representatives of the Maharashtra Mandal, an organisation that oversees several such institutions, run by volunteers from the Marathi-speaking diaspora, focus on teaching the Marathi language along with lessons in culture, history, and folk traditions to children growing up outside India. The Bay Area school, in operation since 2005, currently has around 300 students the US, more than 50 Marathi schools function in similar ways, sustained by community effort but without formal the meeting, the Mandal representatives conveyed that official support, such as a standard curriculum, examination framework, and recognition, would help improve teaching quality and simplify also pointed out that formal certification could encourage wider participation from parents and ASSURES COOPERATIONIn response, Mr Shelar said he would take up the matter with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and School Education Minister Dada assured the group that the Maharashtra government would extend full would include access to curriculum materials, official endorsement letters, and other documentation that could support the functioning and recognition of these visit reflects a growing awareness of the role that diaspora communities play in keeping regional languages and cultures these schools are not part of any formal education network, their contribution to preserving linguistic heritage outside India is this assurance from the minister, the volunteers and families running these schools now await concrete implemented, this support may provide structure to their efforts and help strengthen the long-term sustainability of Marathi language learning in the diaspora.- Ends
NDTV
5 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Maharashtra To Extend Official Curriculum Support To Marathi Schools In US
Maharashtra's Minister for Information Technology and Cultural Affairs, Adv. Ashish Shelar, has assured official support to Marathi schools operating in the United States, including access to curriculum and examination frameworks. During a visit to the Bay Area in San Francisco as part of his US tour, Mr Shelar met office-bearers of the Maharashtra Mandal, which oversees Marathi schools in the region. These community-run institutions, led by committed members of the Marathi diaspora, focus on teaching the Marathi language, culture, history and folk traditions to the next generation. The Bay Area school, operational since 2005, currently educates around 300 students in Marathi. Across the US, more than 50 Marathi schools are functioning through voluntary efforts by the community. Representatives at the meeting told Mr Shelar that official recognition from the Maharashtra government - including a formal curriculum and examination framework - would streamline teaching, certification and administration. In response, Mr Shelar pledged to discuss the matter with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and School Education Minister Dada Bhuse. He assured the Mandal that the government would extend full cooperation, including the provision of official curriculum content and recommendation letters to support the schools' functioning.
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Amid Language Row At Home, Maharashtra Govt To Provide Curriculum To Marathi Schools In US
Last Updated: Maharashtra Minister Ashish Shelar met Maharashtra Mandal members in California, which runs a Marathi school in San Francisco since 2005 for second-gen Marathi children. In a significant outreach to the global Marathi community, Maharashtra's Information Technology and Cultural Affairs Minister, Ashish Shelar, has assured that the state government will soon provide an official Marathi curriculum to Marathi schools operating in the United States. Currently on a tour of the US, Shelar met office-bearers of the Maharashtra Mandal in the Bay Area, California. The Mandal has been running a Marathi school in San Francisco since 2005, helping second-generation Marathi children learn their mother tongue, culture, history, and the folk traditions of Maharashtra. Around 300 students are enrolled in this school, learning Marathi out of pure community effort and passion. Across the US, more than 50 such volunteer-run Marathi schools are keeping the language alive far from home. The move comes at a time when the Marathi language has become a point of emotional and political debate back home. In Maharashtra, tensions have simmered for years over the perceived encroachment of Hindi on Marathi's cultural and administrative space. From signboards in Mumbai to school syllabi and competitive exams, pro-Marathi groups have often demanded stronger safeguards to ensure Marathi's primacy in the state. Recent controversies — including demands for mandatory Marathi signage in shops and debates over language policy in schools — have only intensified this sentiment. Against this backdrop, the state government's promise to strengthen Marathi learning even abroad is being seen as an attempt to reassure the global Marathi community that their roots and identity will be nurtured, no matter where they live. During the meeting in San Francisco, the school's representatives told Minister Shelar that official support from the Maharashtra government would make teaching, examinations, and certification much smoother. Many schools there are run purely on community donations and volunteer teachers, but they lack standardized teaching material and an official stamp that could help students and parents gain confidence in the curriculum's authenticity. Minister Shelar assured them that he would discuss this initiative with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and School Education Minister Dada Bhuse. He promised that the government will not only prepare and share an official syllabus but also issue necessary recommendations to the local US authorities if needed. For many families living thousands of miles away from Maharashtra, this move could make it easier to pass on their language and cultural roots to their children — ensuring that Marathi thrives, not just in the state, but across the world. view comments First Published: July 25, 2025, 13:37 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Nine-time national champion Jinesh Nanal conferred with Maharashtra's top sports award
Twenty-year-old Jinesh Nanal, who ranks first in India and eighth globally in Inline Freestyle Skating, has added another feather to his cap by receiving Maharashtra's highest sporting honour, the prestigious Shiv Chhatrapati State Sports Award 2023-24. The award, presented at Balewadi stadium recently, recognises Nanal's journey from a four-year-old attending skating classes to a nine-time national champion who recently clinched silver and bronze medals at the World Games Series in Hong Kong. Speaking to The Indian Express, Jinesh said, 'When I was four years old, my grandmother used to take me to skating classes as an extra-curricular activity. But gradually my interest evolved, and I started training professionally by the age of 11. Since the beginning, I have been training under coach Ashutosh Jagtap and uncle Dr Iqbal Sayed at the Maharashtra Mandal in Mukundnagar.' 'A typical day comprises around six hours of training, which includes off-skate exercise of two hours, and the rest time is spent in studies and rest. While on weekends, the training time increases. I've always taken care of my diet and made consistent efforts even on days when I had no motivation to train, which has been well-rewarding. The success so far is because my family, friends, sponsors and the government, who have always been supportive in aiding my preparation for this lesser-known sport in India,' said Nanal. Considering the high-pressure situations, nervousness and the fear of failure during competitions, Nanal emphasises believing in one's training and hard work they have put in. 'By meditating, I take care of my mindfulness and by considering any competition as a normal routine test without taking any stress, it has helped me win major competitions,' he said. However, Jinesh highlights the lack of sports infrastructure in the country. 'Despite being a metropolitan city, Pune still does not have wooden surface skating courts that are used at the World Games. If the government focuses and invests in the sports infrastructure, we can train and be well prepared to compete at a global level. Also, by helping budding sportspersons financially and with sports equipment, India may see a rise in the hidden potential,' said Jinesh. Considering Inline Freestyle Skating, Jinesh currently ranks first in India and eighth in global rankings and has won the national championship titles nine times in a row. Recently, he has won a silver and a bronze medal at the World Games Series 2024 held in Hong Kong, held under the International Olympic Committee and will be representing the country at the upcoming World Games in China, which is to be held in August. Along with his excellence in sports, Jinesh has been equally good in academics. 'Jinesh is currently studying in the third year of Computer Engineering at the MIT World Peace University, Kothrud. Over the years, he has managed his studies well, balancing his love for sports and now aspires to win at the upcoming World Games,' said Sheetal Nanal, Jinesh's mother, who is a practising doctor.
