In the midst of the Marathi language row, Shiv Sena Founder Balasaheb Thackeray’s old video has resurfaced amid Marathi language
row”I am Marathi in Maharashtra”.
While Maharashtra continues to reel under a fierce debate over linguistic identity, an old video of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray has resurfaced online, drawing renewed attention. In the clip, the late patriarch is heard calling for unity under the banner of Hindutva over regional linguistic divides.
Thackeray Saab said
“I may be Marathi in Maharashtra, but I am a Hindu in Bharat. We must embrace Hindutva over linguistic identities,” offering a stark contrast to today’s linguistic tensions.
In a significant political rally held in Mumbai on Saturday 5 July, to celebrate the Maharashtra government’s reversal of its Hindi language mandate in schools, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray addressed party workers with a fiery mix of pride and pragmatism. Even as he asserted the need for all residents in Maharashtra, “be it Gujarati or anyone else,” to learn Marathi, he cautioned against overt violence.
Adding there’s no need to beat people for not speaking Marathi. But if someone creates unnecessary drama, you must hit below their eardrums. He also went on to add “Don’t record such incidents. Let the person who’s been beaten speak about it.”
The rally also witnessed a symbolic moment in Maharashtra politics: Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray sharing the stage after nearly two decades. The joint appearance of the estranged cousins signalled a renewed Marathi unity, especially on the language front.
Uddhav Thackeray issued a stern message to both the state and central governments, warning, “We won’t let them impose Hindi on us. We won’t let them separate Mumbai from Maharashtra.”
*language controversy in a nutshell
The controversy erupted following the Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government having introduced a three-language policy mandating Hindi as a compulsory third language in primary schools. The decision sparked widespread backlash from teachers, political parties, and civil society groups who viewed it as an imposition on the
Over Marathi language and identity – facing growing public anger, the government reversed the decision last month.
Raj Thackeray credited the reversal to the “unity of the Marathi people,” stating that such collective resistance was the only way to protect the state’s cultural roots.
Raj Thackeray further sharpened the debate, arguing that the issue was not about hating Hindi but resisting cultural imposition. “We are ahead of all Hindi-speaking states the why should we be made to learn Hindi? Did we impose Marathi when the Marathas ruled half of India.
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“I can learn any language, even Hebrew,” he added, “but his pride in Marathi is non-negotiable.”
Raj also alleged that the language policy was a test case to gauge the response before a larger attempt to detach Mumbai from Maharashtra. “They wanted to see if we’d protest. Protect me’, Sushil Kedia had asked for help before vandalism; called hate tirade ‘dirty operation
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Uddhav Thackeray defends Marathi pride at joint rally with Raj, warns BJP against Hindi imposition
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News Edit KV Raman
