Maharashtrians are miffed that the second language for Indians in Dubai is Hindi and not Marathi.
While the Thackerays’ virulent rhetoric in favour of Marathi has divided Mumbai into pro and anti groups, Maharashtrians in far away Dubai were presented with a similar problem recently. Apparently, Marathis in India are miffed at the fact that the second language in Dubai for Indians, after Arabic, is Hindi.
“I was wondering where our language fell short?” said Kautikrao Thale-Patil, president of Marathi sahitya mahamandal. At the Vishwa Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in Dubai, Thakle-Patil asked Maharashtra’s deputy CM Chhagan Bhujbal, and transport minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil to appeal to the powers that be in Dubai to make Marathi the second language.
But, Marathis in Dubai say this is a non-issue. They feel using force to make Marathi the second language will not help their children. “It all depends on the environment at home. We make it a point to speak in Marathi at home. Our children speak Arabic, Hindi and English and one more language won’t be a problem,” said Varsha Nair, information technology consultant living in Dubai.
Mohana Kelkar, another Dubai resident, said: “Those living away from India feel more for their language than those back home. It happens because we feel we are missing it all here. It won’t help us or the language if it is made compulsory.”
Residents feel the language is not a tool that politicians should use to divide people. “We have watched on television the repercussions of the use of force in Mumbai.
It may be true that in Mumbai, the Marathi manoos may have suffered but where were these politicians during 26/11? They did not even come to give food or water,” said Swapna Banodkar.
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