The BJP-led Mahayuti government's decision to bring in the Hindi language in schools as a mandatory subject from first grade became a big political issue last month, just ahead of the beginning of the new academic year in the state.

It was announced in a government resolution in May 2025 that the Hindi language is to be taught as a third language from first grade, and that became a political issue with Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navanirman Sena, or MNS, who announced that they will oppose the decision and take to the streets in various cities of the state.

After a lot of debate in the regional media and many other political parties, apart from the MNS, speaking against the government policy on the issue, the state government announced it would roll back the decision for the time being and take a final decision on the subject after discussing the matter with all the stakeholders.

The regional media and opposition parties may have raised a storm over what they called the "imposition of Hindi in education", but are the voters and the public at large in the state really conscious about preserving the Marathi language and ensuring that it remains the dominant language in the state?

Maharashtra has witnessed a steady stream of migrants into the state ever since it was formed in 1960. Mumbai, as the financial capital of the country, attracted migrants from all parts of the country. In the........

© Free Press Journal