The issue of the education of the Hindi language being introduced as a compulsory subject in schools in Maharashtra from first grade itself became controversial in the state last week. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) party Chief Raj Thackeray took up the subject politically and announced that he would launch an agitation over the matter.

Subsequently, the issue gathered pace with many non-political organisations raising objections to Hindi being made mandatory. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had to finally relent and announce that there was no compulsion anymore in primary schools.

Just as this controversy receded, the media reported that both Thackeray cousins, Uddhav and Raj, were likely to reconcile and join forces for the upcoming Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai civic polls to form a regional political force in the interest of Maratha pride.

This gives rise to the question: does Maharashtra, in modern times, really have a regional spirit and linguistic pride alive which can sustain a political party that can thrive on such a spirit?

The state of Maharashtra was formed on May 1, 1960, according to the linguistic bifurcation of states. Celebrations went on for........

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