New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that there has never been any animosity between the languages of India, emphasising that they have always influenced and enriched each other. Speaking at the 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan at Vigyan Bhavan, he encouraged people to reject misconceptions that attempt to create divisions based on language, reinforcing that the government views all Indian languages as equally mainstream.

“There has never been any animosity among Indian languages. Languages have always influenced and enriched each other. Often, when efforts are made to create divisions based on language, our shared linguistic heritage provides a strong counterargument. It is our social responsibility to distance ourselves from these misconceptions and to embrace and enrich all languages. That is why today we are looking at all the languages of the country as mainstream languages,” PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister also addressed the government's commitment to promoting education in all major languages, including Marathi. He highlighted the importance of changing the mindset that undermines talent based on a lack of English proficiency.

“We are promoting education in all major languages, including Marathi. The youth of Maharashtra can easily pursue higher education, engineering, and medical studies in Marathi. We have changed the mindset that overlooked talent due to a lack of English proficiency. We all say that literature is the mirror of society. It also guides society’s direction. Therefore, literary conferences and institutions connected to literature play a very important role in the country,” he added.

PM Modi also celebrated the legacy of Marathi, noting its significant contributions to Dalit literature, modern thinking, and even science fiction. He praised Maharashtra’s historical influence on fields like Ayurveda, science, and logic.

“In the country, the Marathi language has given us a very rich Dalit literature. Due to its modern thinking, Marathi literature has also created works of science fiction. In the past, people from Maharashtra have made incredible contributions to Ayurveda, science, and logical reasoning,” he said.

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Reflecting on Maharashtra’s role in social change, PM Modi remembered the many saints from the region who used Marathi as a medium to guide society during the Bhakti movement. He also acknowledged the role of Marathi in the fight for independence, highlighting the contributions of warriors like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj, and Baji Rao Peshwa.

“Many saints from Maharashtra provided a new direction to society through the Bhakti movement, using the Marathi language as their medium. During the long period of hundreds of years of slavery, the Marathi language became a symbol of freedom from invaders. Marathi warriors such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji Maharaj, and Baji Rao Peshwa defeated their enemies and brought them to their knees,” he concluded.