Over the last few days, Maharashtra has seen the eruption of yet another language agitation in the state, with Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) confronting workers of various establishments, as well as nationalised banks, for not using Marathi in communication with customers. Language agitations in Maharashtra have been a central part of the state’s political history, driven by the need to protect Marathi culture, language, and identity. These movements have had profound effects on the political landscape of the state, leading to the formation of the state in the 1960s and subsequently giving rise to regional parties like the Shiv Sena and the MNS.
The recent agitation comes, however, against the backdrop of a noticeable shift in the linguistic landscape of Maharashtra, where migration, social mobility, and the increasing dominance of Hindi and English have led to a reduced usage of Marathi in public and professional spaces in Maharashtra’s urban pockets.
What language does Maharashtra speak?
Marathi remains the dominant language in Maharashtra, with nearly 7.75 crore individuals – representing 68.93 per cent of the state’s total population of 11.24 crore – listing it as their mother tongue, according to the 2011 Census. The Census defines ‘mother tongue’ as the language spoken by a person’s mother in childhood, a term that is deeply intertwined with an individual’s cultural identity.
Following Marathi, the languages listed as mother tongues in Maharashtra are Hindi (12.89 per cent), Urdu (6.71 per cent), Gujarati (2.11 per cent), and Bhilodi (2 per cent). What has particularly concerned nativists is the significant rise in the number of people listing Hindi as their mother tongue. While regional languages like Marathi (which saw a 16.23 per cent increase), Urdu (9.35 per cent), and Gujarati (2.4 per cent) grew at a steady pace, the number of people identifying Hindi as their mother tongue surged by a staggering 35.57 per cent.
This shift, coupled with the broader national trend of a gradual decline in the proportion of Marathi speakers across India since the 1970s, has intensified concerns among those advocating for the preservation of Marathi culture and identity. As of the 2011 Census, 8.30 crore Indians (accounting for 6.86 per cent of the national population) consider Marathi their mother tongue. This is a proportional decline from 1971, when 4.17 crore people, representing 7.62 per cent of the national population, listed Marathi as their mother tongue.
Despite Marathi being granted classical language status by the Union Government last year after an 11-year-long agitation, many in Maharashtra, including Raj Thackeray, have raised concerns about the language’s ‘neglect’.
“We, the Marathi-speaking people, celebrated the joy of Marathi being granted the status of a classical language. Like everyone else, I, too, felt happy because when any language gets governmental recognition, it brings certain benefits, including reserved funds for development. Our expectation is that Marathi should continue to grow. However, there are other pressing concerns. The most important issue is the declining state of Marathi language education. It’s not just because parents are sending their children to English-medium schools; Marathi schools are closing down, and their properties are being sold. This is the harsh reality,” Dr. Tara Bhawalkar, a prominent Marathi scholar and writer, stated during her presidential address at the 98th All India Marathi Literary Conference in Delhi earlier this year.
Story continues below this ad
Language agitations and political identity in Maharashtra
Language agitations have been a defining feature of Maharashtra’s political history, shaping its socio-political landscape over the years. Central to this was the Marathi language movement, particularly the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement (United Maharashtra Movement), which was driven by the demand for the creation of a state for Marathi-speaking people. This culminated in the formation of Maharashtra on May 1, 1960.
Linguistic Distribution in Maharashtra (2011 Census)
|
Language |
Persons who returned it as their mother tongue |
% of state population |
Persons who returned it as their mother tongue |
% of state population |
% increase in absolute numbers |
|
Marathi |
7,74,61,172 |
68.93 |
66,643,942 |
68.79 |
16.23% |
|
Hindi |
1,44,81,513 |
12.89 |
10,681 ,641 |
11 .03 |
35.57% |
|
Urdu |
75,40,324 |
6.71 |
6,895,501 |
7.12 |
9.35% |
|
Gujarati |
23,71,743 |
2.11 |
2,315,409 |
2.39 |
2.4% |
|
Bhilodi |
22,47,678 |
2 |
Khandeshi: 1,866,460 |
1.93 |
Mother Tongue Data by Language, Population, and Growth
The state has also been at the heart of a territorial dispute with Karnataka over the Belgaum region, which Maharashtra claims based on its Marathi-speaking majority. However, Karnataka insists the area should remain part of its state.
Language, particularly the identity of the Marathi manoos (Marathi man), has also played a crucial role in the rise of political parties like Shiv Sena. The party’s agenda centred on advocating for the rights of Marathi speakers, a cause that was later amplified by Raj Thackeray, Bal Thackeray’s estranged nephew, with the formation of the MNS. The MNS has become a significant player in the state’s political scene, continuing to use language as a tool to assert regional identity and political power.
Marathi’s strength and struggles: Is the language under siege?
Linguists argue that language agitations are often deeply intertwined with territorial and political struggles, with language serving as both a marker of identity and a tool for asserting claims to land, autonomy, and power.
Story continues below this ad
According to G N Devy, Chairman, People’s Linguistic Survey of India, said, “What is happening is that people use their language as a tool to assert their claims to specific territories. Language agitations, to a large extent, are a way to assert cultural rights over a particular region. In mixed societies, when one group feels the interests of the others are being served at their expense, such agitations flare up.”
Trends in Hindi and Marathi as Mother Tongues in India (1971-2011)
|
Persons who claimed Hindi as their mother tongue |
% share of total population |
Persons who claimed Marathi as their mother tongue |
% share of total population |
|
|
1971 |
20,27,67,971 |
36.99 |
4,17,65,190 |
7.62 |
|
1981 |
25,77,49,009 |
38.74 |
4,94,52,922 |
7.43 |
|
1991 |
32,95,18,087 |
39.29 |
6,24,81 ,681 |
7.45 |
|
2001 |
42,20,48,642 |
41.03 |
7,19,36,894 |
6.99 |
|
2011 |
52,83,47,193 |
43.63 |
8,30,26,680 |
6.86 |
Growth and Share of Population by Language Over Five Decades
While migration to states like Maharashtra has increased the number of Hindi speakers, Devy pointed out that Marathi is thriving. “There is a difference between the spread of a language and its growth. Growth should be measured not just in terms of population but in the expansion of vocabulary, proverbs, and idioms, all of which are indicators of linguistic development,” he said.
Story continues below this ad
On the subject of Marathi’s survival, Devy emphasised that the language has flourished in cinema, theatre, and journalism. “Marathi continues to thrive today, even amidst external influences,” he noted. “Maharashtra acknowledges migration, but its cultural traditions remain strong. Marathi speakers take pride in the region’s rich oral culture and continue to innovate the language. Positioned between Indo-Aryan and Dravidian influences, Marathi borrows freely but is not afraid of linguistic ‘pollution’,” Devy concluded.