Latest news with #MarathiAsmita
News18
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Prithviraj Sukumaran Reacts To Marathi Language Row: ‘I Come from A Time Where…'
Last Updated: Prithviraj Sukumaran, promoting his OTT film Sarzameen, addressed the Marathi language row in Maharashtra, emphasizing India's unity in diversity. Prithviraj Sukumaran is currently busy promoting his recently released OTT film Sarzameen, starring Kajol and Ibrahim Ali Khan. During a promotional interview, the actor was questioned about the Marathi language row in Maharashtra. While addressing the topic, Prithviraj Sukumaran clearly stated that, in all of this, we have forgotten how India stands for 'unity in diversity, not uniformity." 'Maybe I'm just old-fashioned because I come from a time and generation where you grew up with none of this even being a topic for discussion," Sukumaran said in an interview with HT, while talking about the growing language-based violence in the country, especially in the state of Maharashtra. He further continued and shared, 'I am a Sainik School product. I spent most of my schooling years in Sainik School, and even at the schooling stage, I had friends from the North and from different states. We all had different languages being spoken amongst us. So, it was just part of who we are as a country. I just think that in the heat of all these discussions and conversations, we forget that the ethos of this great nation is unity in diversity, not uniformity in spite of diversity." Several celebrities have spoken about the ongoing Hindi-Marathi row in Maharashtra. While speaking about the clash, Shikhar Pahariya had said, 'Marathi Asmita is real. It is deep, emotional, and rooted in our way of life," he wrote, but warned, 'That pride cannot come at the cost of others' dignity… We cannot keep a language alive through fear." Recently, at the trailer launch of Son of Sardaar 2, Ajay Devgn was asked to comment on the ongoing Hindi-Marathi language debate. The actor kept his response brief but impactful, slipping into his 'Singham' avatar with the popular line, 'Aata Majhi Satakli." Earlier, while speaking to IANS, R. Madhavan said, 'No, I have never experienced it. I speak Tamil. I speak Hindi. And I have studied in Kolhapur also. I have learnt Marathi as well. So, I have never had any problem because of language—neither because of knowing it nor because of not knowing it." First Published: July 29, 2025, 10:58 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.
News18
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Shilpa Shetty Calls Herself 'Maharashtra Chi Mulgi', Refuses To Get Into Marathi-Hindi Language Row
Shilpa Shetty calls herself "Maharashtra chi mulgi" at KD - The Devil teaser launch, choosing inclusion over controversy in the ongoing Marathi-Hindi debate. At the teaser launch of her upcoming film KD – The Devil, actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra made a brief but impactful statement that resonated far beyond the glitz of the event. Dressed elegantly in a pink saree, Shilpa responded to the ongoing discourse around the Marathi-Hindi language divide with just one sentence — but it was enough to win hearts and strike a powerful chord. 'Mala Marathi mahit ahe, me Maharashtra chi mulgi ahe," she declared. ('I can speak Marathi. I am Maharashtra's daughter.") Maharashtra has been at the epicentre of a growing language controversy, where tensions between Hindi and Marathi speakers have escalated, often spilling into confrontations. Political parties like Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have been accused of aggressive tactics, allegedly targeting individuals and businesses that do not use Marathi in signage or speech. The debate has reignited questions around linguistic inclusivity, regional identity, and the place of Hindi in India's most cosmopolitan state. Veteran playback singer Udit Narayan also addressed the issue recently. In a statement to IANS, he said, 'We live in Maharashtra and it is my 'Karma bhoomi' (workplace). So, the language here is also important. Along with that, all the languages in our country are equally important." Udit's diplomatic take acknowledged the cultural significance of Marathi while emphasising India's multilingual fabric. Adding depth to the conversation, Shikhar Pahariya—entrepreneur and rumoured partner of actress Janhvi Kapoor—shared a heartfelt note on Instagram, challenging the notion of linguistic purity being enforced through intimidation. 'Marathi Asmita is real. It is deep, emotional, and rooted in our way of life," he wrote, but warned, 'That pride cannot come at the cost of others' dignity… We cannot keep a language alive through fear." Shikhar, who hails from Solapur, highlighted that just as people migrate to Mumbai and Pune for work, Marathi-speaking individuals also relocate to cities like Delhi and Chennai. 'Imagine if they were made to feel unwelcome there… When people are struggling and working hard, away from their families, this imposition through violent action is unacceptable." He concluded with a powerful message of inclusivity, 'Let our Marathi Asmita shine through inclusion, not intimidation. Let us protect Marathi by celebrating it, not weaponising it." First Published: July 10, 2025, 16:08 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.
The Wire
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Opposition Slams Fadnavis After Tension Flares During Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS Joint March in Thane
Opposition parties targeted Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the state home department, accusing them of being responsible for fuelling the issue. New Delhi: Tensions prevailed in Mira-Bhayandar town of Maharashtra's Thane district where workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) (Shiv Sena (UBT)) held a joint march on Tuesday (July 9) in support of 'Marathi Asmita (pride)' The MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT), which recently joined hands after their respective leaders Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray recently shared the stage after two decades, held the march as a counter event to a traders' rally held last week to protest against a sweet shop owner being slapped by MNS workers for not speaking in Marathi. Maharashtra Minister Pratap Sarnaik who is from Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, wanted to participate in the march but was heckled as 'traitor'. He was subsequently forced to leave the spot, reported The Hindu. While opposition parties targeted Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and the state home department, accusing them of being responsible for fuelling the issue by 'denying the democratic right to hold a rally', the Chief Minister rejected the allegations. 'The party [MNS] was asked to take a different route,' said Fadnavis. Opposition leaders including Aaditya Thackeray from the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Supriya Sule of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) slammed the government, with the latter saying that the Chief Minister and the Home Department were solely responsible for the tensions during the march by the two parties. "CM Fadnavis says he is ready to grant permission, but only if we change our rally route. That is nothing but a tactic to suppress our voice," said MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande, reported Press Trust of India. The situation at the march became tense when police started detaining protesters, with some of them being picked up by the police while they were addressing the media. Shiv Sena (Shinde) leader Sarnaik, who was earlier heckled by the MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) workers, also criticised the police. "The police's action was completely wrong. The government has not issued any such instructions to suppress a peaceful morcha in support of Marathi interests," Sarnaik told reporters. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
India Today
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Fear can't keep language alive: Janhvi's partner Shikhar on Marathi-Hindi row
Shikhar Pahariya, known for his relationship with Bollywood actor Janhvi Kapoor, recently addressed the ongoing language conflict in Maharashtra. In a lengthy post on Instagram, he highlighted the tensions between Hindi and Marathi speakers, expressing that language preservation should not be driven by fear or emphasised that the concept of 'Asmita,' (a sense of self and identity) should "uplift, not divide." He remarked, "It should give us pride, not prejudice, no matter where in India we are from or what language we speak. Marathi Asmita is real. It is deep, emotional, and rooted in our way of life (sic)." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shikhar Pahariya (@shikharpahariya)advertisementSpeaking from personal experience, as someone from Solapur, Pahariya stated, "Language shapes who we are. It has shaped our states, our stories, given us poets, songs, and revolutions. Marathi is no exception. It must be preserved, protected, and passed on, just like all of our languages. But that pride cannot come at the cost of others' dignity. Especially others who are making an honest, hard living (sic)." He further talked about the plight of migrants, comparing them to Marathi speakers moving to other Indian cities. "Imagine if they were made to feel unwelcome there, humiliated for the language they spoke. What would we say then? When people are struggling and working hard, away from their families, this imposition through violent action is unacceptable (sic)," he criticised the belief that speaking languages other than Marathi in Mumbai is a threat, stating, "It is not a tragedy that people speak Hindi, Tamil, or Gujarati in Mumbai. The real tragedy is believing this is a threat to Marathi. We cannot keep a language alive through fear (sic)."His comments came amid reports of violence against non-Marathi speakers have escalated in Mumbai and called for a more inclusive approach, saying, "Mumbai, Maharashtra, and India belong to all those who live with dignity, work with honesty, and speak with kindness, whatever their language. Let our Marathi Asmita shine through inclusion, not intimidation. Let us protect Marathi by celebrating it, not weaponising it (sic)."His statement is a significant voice in the ongoing debate over language and identity in one of India's most linguistically diverse states.- EndsTrending Reel IN THIS STORY#Janhvi Kapoor
India.com
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Marathi Asmita Is Real...: Janhvi Kapoor's Boyfriend Shikhar Pahariya Opens Up On Hindi-Marathi Conflict
Mumbai: Bollywood actress Janhvi Kapoor's boyfriend Shikhar Pahariya has spoken up on the rising issue of the language conflict between Hindi and Marathi in Maharashtra. On Tuesday, Shikhar took to his Instagram, and penned a long note as he spoke about the issue. He wrote, 'Asmita, a sense of self and identity, should uplift, not divide. It should give us pride, not prejudice, no matter where in India we are from or what language we speak. Marathi Asmita is real. It is deep, emotional, and rooted in our way of life'. In Maharashtra, a new movement is brewing. For now, the movement is gaining momentum in big cities of the state after the Maharashtra government passed a decision to make Hindi a compulsory third language in schools in April this year. The State Council of Educational Research and Training included this provision in the state School Curriculum Framework-2024. Shikhar raised his voice in support of the poor migrants in cities like Mumbai and Pune. He further mentioned, 'As someone from Solapur, I understand this deeply. Language shapes who we are, it has shaped our states, our stories, given us poets, songs, and revolutions. Marathi is no exception. It must be preserved, protected, and passed on, just like all of our languages. But that pride cannot come at the cost of others' dignity. Especially others who are making an honest, hard living'. He continued, 'So many from Solapur travel to Delhi, Chennai, or Kolkata to work hard and build a future. Imagine if they were made to feel unwelcome there, humiliated for the language they spoke. What would we say then? When people are struggling and working hard, away from their families, this imposition through violent action is unacceptable. It is not a tragedy that people speak Hindi, Tamil, or Gujarati in Mumbai. The real tragedy is believing this is a threat to Marathi. We cannot keep a language alive through fear'. 'Mumbai, Maharashtra, and India belong to all those who live with dignity, work with honesty, and speak with kindness, whatever their language. Let our Marathi Asmita shine through inclusion, not intimidation. Let us protect Marathi by celebrating it, not weaponising it (sic)', he added. Meanwhile, the government of Maharashtra has already rolled back its decision, and School Education Minister Dada Bhuse announced that Hindi will now be an optional subject, with Marathi and English being the priority languages. The latest uproar comes in the light of violent measures being taken by MNS workers against people in Mumbai and Pune who refuse to speak Marathi. In fact, estranged cousins Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray even reunited after 3 decades to push back the Hindi imposition in the state.
