Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Oct 3: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said Marathi is not merely a medium of communication but a bearer of rich culture and a witness to a glorious history, stressing the need to further develop the language as a digital and knowledge language in the 21st century.
Speaking at the launch of the “Classical Marathi Language Week” and “Classical Marathi Language Honour Day”, Fadnavis said Marathi, with its vast vocabulary, rich literary tradition and diverse dialects, should be expanded beyond everyday usage and integrated into modern fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital technology, quantum computing, space technology and biotechnology.
The programme was organised against the backdrop of Marathi receiving classical language status.
Fadnavis said Marathi was inherently ancient and classical, adding that its official recognition as a classical language by the Central Government was a matter of pride for Marathi speakers.
He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, granting classical language status to Marathi had highlighted Maharashtra's linguistic and cultural heritage at the national level.
Recalling history, Fadnavis said Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had emphasised the native language alongside the vision of Swarajya and worked to promote Marathi in state administration, giving a new direction to its use in governance.
Noting that Marathi ranks 13th among the world's most spoken languages, the Chief Minister highlighted its global character.
He said the Marathi Encyclopedia (Gnyankosh) and Shabdaratnakar, compiled in the 20th century, contained between 1.1 million and 1.3 million words.
In comparison, he said the Oxford English Dictionary contains around 600,000 words, while languages such as Mandarin, Spanish and French have roughly 300,000 to 350,000 words.
The official Marathi dictionary currently published by the state government contains around 300,000 words. Fadnavis stressed the need to work on subsequent editions to expand the vocabulary to 1.3 million words.
Citing Marathi's rich lexicon, he underscored the importance of its encyclopaedic and lexicographical traditions.
Millions of words recorded across various dictionaries demonstrate the depth of Marathi's linguistic heritage, he said, adding that this vocabulary should not remain merely a matter of pride but must be effectively used in generating modern knowledge.
Making concepts in science, technology, economics, education and research available in Marathi would truly elevate it into a language of knowledge, he said.
Fadnavis noted that communication channels were evolving rapidly because of digital technology and said Marathi should not remain confined to traditional usage but must be integrated with new technology.
He stressed the need to leverage “Marathi AI” to expand the language's effective footprint in artificial intelligence, make information and knowledge resources available across digital platforms, and produce high-quality Marathi content on OTT platforms and social media.
He expressed confidence that making knowledge resources available in cutting-edge fields such as quantum computing, space technology and biotechnology would enable the younger generation to absorb modern knowledge in their mother tongue.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said Marathi was not just Maharashtra's identity but also its self-respect.
With a rich legacy spanning from Saint Dnyaneshwar to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Marathi had travelled across oceans and made its mark globally, he said.
The state government was committed to accelerating the global expansion of Marathi in the future, Shinde added.
He said expanding the use of Marathi in modern domains such as digital media, social networks, podcasts, gaming and coding was essential to connect the younger generation with the language.
Minister of Marathi Language Uday Samant said the state government was committed to preserving, promoting and globally expanding Marathi language and culture, with several ambitious initiatives launched for its holistic development.
He said work was underway to establish a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for Marathi at Deccan University in Pune, a ‘Global Marathi Centre’ named after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in London, 100 dictionaries covering various regional dialects across the state, and nine ‘Marathi Skill Development Centres’.