Maharashtra government declares October 3 as ‘Classical Marathi Language Day’

The Maharashtra government has announced that October 3 will be celebrated as Classical Marathi Language Day following the Centres decision last year to confer the status of classical language on Marathi reported news agency PTIAlso October 3 to 9 will be marked as Classical Marathi Language Week every year it saidA government resolution GR issued by the Marathi Language Department on Thursday stated that the move aims to promote awareness preservation and scholarly engagement with Marathis rich linguistic and literary heritage which spans over 2500 years reported PTIThe decision to celebrate the day and week annually stems from a Union Cabinet resolution passed on October 3 2024 granting Marathi the status of a classical languageAs per the GR all government and semigovernment offices public sector undertakings universities schools colleges private enterprises and financial institutions have been instructed to organize programmes related to the popularisation and preservation of the language during the designated week reported PTIThese events will include lectures seminars exhibitions of ancient texts and inscriptions quizzes essay competitions and other academic and cultural activities focusing on classical MarathiExhibitions of rare manuscripts and ancient copperplate inscriptions will help students and the general public connect with the classical tradition of Marathi the GR noted reported PTIDigitisation of ancient works translation of classical texts into modern Marathi and screenings of documentaries on preservation methods have also been recommendedCollectors have been designated as heads of the Marathi Language Committees in their respective districts and asked to oversee the planning and execution of events They are required to submit detailed reports of activities conducted during the week to the Directorate of Languages by October 31 according to the government order reported PTIThe expenditure for these celebrations is to be met through regular budgetary allocations of the concerned departments and offices it addedLast year the Centre approved conferring the status of classical language on Marathi Pali Prakrit Assamese and Bengali languagesTheir inclusion as classical language will create significant employment opportunities particularly in academic and research fields Additionally the preservation documentation and digitization of ancient texts of these languages will generate jobs in archiving translation publishing and digital media it had said reported PTIAfter a language is notified as a classical language the Union Education Ministry provides certain benefits for its promotion which include two major annual international awards for scholars of eminence in the said languagesWith inputs from PTI