Marathi and the long politics behind the language question
A language-policy debate in Maharashtra reopened long-running questions of identity, federalism, and mother-tongue education.
The article examines how a 2025 policy move in Maharashtra to make Hindi a compulsory third language in schools triggered a much older political conflict. The key issue is not only language choice in classrooms, but the larger question of how the State manages identity, education, and power in a multilingual democracy.
Historical background
The article traces Marathi linguistic assertion to the early-modern Deccan, where Persian dominated administration under several polities. Taxation, adjudication, and official work were carried out in Persian, which placed Marathi speakers at a disadvantage and linked language to hierarchy.
UPSC may frame this issue around whether language can be promoted through persuasion and education rather than coercion, and how constitutional democracy balances national integration with linguistic diversity. The debate also fits questions on federalism, mother-tongue education, and regional identity politics.
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