Deterioration of language

It is often lernt from the esteemed column of various news papers and other sources of media regarding existance of MARATHI language.Various "Sahitya Sammelans" also include this issue in agenda,but no fruitful results appear in such sammelans.Few political parties have also made this issue as a strong factor under the strategy-Wellwishing of MARATHI MAANUS in Maharashtra.But the way of their agitation is not proper.

It has become the general thinking that danger to Marathi language is because of English.But I am of the opinion that danger to Marathi is more by Hindi than any other language.As far as English is concerned english words have made place not only in all the Indian Languages,but most of the foreign languages too,which are globally accepted.On the contrary Marathi language is loosing its existance by day-today growing effect of Hindi.Words of Hindi/Urdu have entered in Marathi so firmly that one would believe that only those are correct and appropriate.The correct words have been replaced by the Hindi words.For example KILLI/KILLYA (singular/plural) is the exact word for KEY/KEYS.But it has been replaced by CHAVI/CHAVYA of Hindi.One literate Marathi person these days feels that CHAVI is the right & correct word.There are so many other words of Hindi/Urdu language already took place in Marathi although appropriate Marathi words still exist.For example-SAWAl-PRASHNA (Question),DIN-DIWAS (Day),CHHOTA-LAHAAN (Small),JUNGLE-RAAN (Forest),HAWA-WAARE (Wind),HALWA-SHIRA (A sweet dish),etc.This list is unending because every day by and large a new word is entering the language & replacing the original word.Do we feel that Marathi is growing more prosperous by Hindi words? Some people opine that this typy of habbit is there in Vidarbha regeion,but what I have experienced is,this situation is everywhere in Maharashtra (including Mumbai & Pune) and in the rest of country.Rural area is still maintaining the purity.But now it is also affected by the urban areas.In urban areas (now in villages too) inside many Marathi houses husband-wife often speak Hindi during conversation.Children who follow elders (Parents/Guardians) have less practice of speaking Marathi than their guardians.Their next generation would speak Marathi less than the previous one.After few generations Marathi will be vanished at least in those few houses.This is the dangerous situation.This may lead to deterioration of Maayboli,the mother tongue of Maharashtra all around.Outside the houses in Maharashtra people prefer speaking Hindi not only at Public Places like offices,Bus or Railway Stations,Hotels,Shops but also at small places like PAAN THELAAS (Betel Shops),business or working places,among colleagues,friends,relatives etc.It is true that culture is strenghthened by language.In Kolkata I have seen a non bengali person speaks with a non bengali person in Bangla (the Bengali language) knowingly that both of them are non Bengalis.Whereas in Maharashtra normally Marathi people talk to each other in Hindi despite they knew that both were Marathis.

Non Maharashtrians,particularly Bengalis,Tamilians,Gujratis etc.have respect to their culture.They feel proud of their culture as well as their mother tongue.This can be experienced not only in their states but anywhere in India (also where they are in minority).They use to speak their language with their statemates and even with whoever understands their language.In any group if there are at least two persons from West Bengal or Tamilnadu,they will start their conversation in Bangla or Tamil as soon as they come to know about it.They will forget about other people in the group,who were earlier in the discussion.In other words they will make others to understand/learn their language.Whereas Marathi speaking people,as I have mentioned above,will prefer Hindi in group discussion in anticipation that other people in the group might not understand Marathi.Why don't they think that people might not understand Hindi?

Hindi has been honoured in the country as 'Rajbhasha' i.e. official language of Central Government as well as contact or link language between States & Central Government(This may be ironic that Central Govt.commonly use English as official language and many of our past & present leaders can not even speak this Rajbhasha).I am of the opinion that Hindi should be accepted throuhout the country as National Language (which is not at present).Moreover it should get place in the list of International Languages and be recognised in United Nations like English,French etc.(Unfortunately in south open protest of Hindi is the fate of our country).Having full respect towards this honourable language from core of my heart,question arises in my mind why a common Marathi man needs help of other languages (mainly Hindi) while speaking Marathi?And why this sort of help is not required by Gujratis.Malyalis,Tamilians, Bengalis or any other non Marathi persons? Why a Maharashtrian feels inferiority complex while speaking in Marathi? While literature (books,magazines,dailies) of other languages is available all over the country,why it is not available in Marathi outside Maharashtra or even at several places in Maharashtra? Like in southern and north-eastern states why the names of Railway Stations on yellow boards (at both ends of platforms) are not in larger font in Marathi in the middle? What is the necessity of inclusion of Hindi dialogues in most of the Marathi movies? Why few ads (advertisements) on Marathi channels,which are there in other provincial languages telecast through provincial channels on television,are in Hindi & not in Marathi? Why Marathi news papers & magazines are filled,now-a-days with unnecessarily intrded Hindi words? Why a city bus conductor in Maharashtra who never used any language other than Marathi,has now started speaking with passangers in Hindi? Why in private buses in Maharashtra songs played on audio cassette player are in Hindi and not in Marathi (as being played in regional languages in other non Hindi states)? These and lot of this kind of questions are unanswered.

On one hand Central Govt. is emphasising the need of Hindi through various advertisements whereas Maharashtra Govt.seems to be indifferent for implementation of Marathi.Consequently private sector companies,business establishments do not think it necessary to implement Marathi.Central Govt.establishments have also forgotten to implement the Tri-language formulae.

This is an open disgrace of Marathi which shows our weakness to protect our existance due to bashful attitude.

At last I would like to conclude with this that we ourselves are responsible for deterioration of Marathi.Like other non hindi speaking states we should,not only speak Marathi in our house with our spouse,children,relatives but also outside the house with friends,colleagues,with the shopkeeper,at hotels,govt. & other offices and at any public places.If we would be strict enough among ourselves while using Marathi,I am sure Marathi will definitely survive & will grow more prosperous like other languages.