NEW DELHI: NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar has invited PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate a prominent Marathi literary event, a gesture that is being seen as a gratitude to the Centre for granting classical language status to Marathi. The invitation has also given rise to speculation about Pawar’s political strategy as his party faces challenges after a poor showing in the last year Maharashtra polls.
Modi has been invited for the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, the organising committee of which is headed by Pawar. The event is held under the banner of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal.
In his invitation to the Prime Minister, Pawar said this is the first time that the sammelan is being held in Delhi (from Feb 21-23) and recalled that the event’s 37th edition was inaugurated by former PM Jawaharlal Nehru.
Pawar highlighted the historical significance of the sammelan, dating back to 1878 when it was first held as the ‘Granthakar Sammelan’ by Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade in Pune. The event has seen participation of prominent figures like Lokmanya Tilak, Namdar Gokhale, V D Savarkar and Kakasaheb Gadgil.
His letter to Modi emphasised the appropriateness of the PM inaugurating the event, given the recent recognition of Marathi as a classical language. “Recently, during your tenure, the historical decision to accord Marathi language the status of classical language was taken. On this backdrop, it would be apt that this year, this impressive confluence of Marathi language and culture is inaugurated at your hands,” Pawar wrote.
NCP-SP ally Shiv Sena (UBT), however, offered a critical perspective, emphasising that classical language status resulted from collective efforts. “Every political leader and CM in the last 30-35 years worked to get classical language status for Marathi. It is a great honour. It is due to collective contribution and not because of a single party or any leader,” Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said.
Last year, after the Centre’s granted Marathi classical language status, Pawar had said , “Five languages have been given the status of elite languages, and Marathi is one of them. This is very important for the Marathi language and other languages which have got the status of elite language. This decision has been taken a little late but the important thing is that this decision has been taken. It will have many benefits for the promotion and development of the Marathi language.”