Marathi Nationalism - Contemporary Sub-nationalism

Contemporary Sub-nationalism

In the past few decades, Mumbai and sometimes larger Maharashtra have witnessed a growing resentment towards South Indians and recently towards migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. There is also a recent movement towards compulsory use of Marathi language in Mumbai in places including the Municipal Corporation. This "Maharashtra for the Marathis" sub-nationalism or regionalism has been condemned by mainstream political parties such as Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan has assured protection for both North and South Indian immigrants. Much of such trouble has been created by the concept of Three language in Govt. of India. Three Language concept says that all offices of Govt. of India have to use Hindi, English and any other regional language. Regional languages are encouraged but at the same time use of Hindi and English is imposed on workers forcing them to learn additional languages. Class-iV workers find it difficult to learn additional languages while they can work efficiently in mother tongue Marathi. At one point Marathi and Hindi share same grammar rules as they are derived from same ancestral language Sanskrit . And one who knows Hindi can easily learn Marathi and vice-versa. This language war has been exploited several times and is used by several political parties to gain some easy hold on citizens and eventually hold on vote bank. For several years now, even use of English is opposed by mainstream Marathi nationalists which is always opposed by English speaking non-Marathi states.