Maharashtra minister meets Union Minister G Kishan Reddy to seek classical language status for Marathi

New Delhi, February 21: Maharashtra Industries Minister Subhash Desai met with Union Minister G Kishan Reddy in Delhi, with a demand to grant classical language status to Marathi.

 

Desai said, "Till now six languages have been accorded with the classical language status by the Indian government: Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Telugu, Odiya and Sanskrit. We formed an expert committee to decide on giving classical language status to Marathi language. The committee made the report and sent it to the Central government. The Literature Academy established by the Central government formed a linguistic expert committee. They investigated it and said that they have received all the proofs and it is appropriate to provide Marathi, a classical language status."

 

According to him, the demand seeking classical language status for Marathi has been going on for many years in Maharashtra. He said, "The proposal was kept. The report of the expert committee was submitted. After that the Central government, the Literature Academy and the linguistic expert committee accepted that it is appropriate to bestow Marathi language with the classical language status."

He added, "Since 2014, Maharashtra was continuously trying for the status, but this was never brought up. So, that's why we came today and met Union Minister G Kishan Reddy and have given him a memorandum. He told that they are pleased that Maharashtra has given all the proofs and it will be appropriate to give Marathi the classical language status and they will do it soon."

 

Desai also said they have contacted those who have migrated from Maharashtra to Delhi for work along with the Maharashtra officials in Delhi. They have started a campaign where a short film will tell people about technicalities of a classical language, and how Marathi language fulfils those technicalities. This campaign is underway.