Marathi for all

If you switch on a tube light it only lights up whats beneath it but if you light a samayi Marathi a metal lamp its radiance illuminates the whole room This is how Suhasini Kirtikar coordinator of the Marathi language course at the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh MMSS describes the significance of the 85yearold institution taking its decadesold course online for the first time Starting in January the course originally designed for nonMarathi speakers will be open to adults and students as well as those familiar with the languageThe Dnyaneshwari a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita written by the Marathi saint and poet Dnyaneshwar in 1290 CE Pic CourtesyWikimedia commonsEstablished in 1935 by Dr AN Bhalerao the Girgaumbased MMSS has been instrumental in the nurturing of Marathi literature and culture Kirtikar who has worked with MMSS for over four decades shares that before the lockdown the Learning Marathi effectively for nonMarathi speakers course used to run out of the MMSS building along with centres in Sion Chembur and Bandra among other places Dedicated teachers including Marathi critic Dr Sudha Joshi editor Ram Patwardhan poet and critic professor Ramesh Tendulkar and teacher Suhas Limaye have taught the course voluntarily over the years In light of the pandemic we shifted this course online for now The first batch starts in January and well see how it goes says KirtikarSuhasini Kirtikar and Dr Leena KedareThe threemonth online course recognised by the state government will now be taught by Minakshi Jayakar and Eknath Awad once a week to a batch of maximum 20 students Theyll be introduced to the basics short stories songs and conversational Marathi to navigate everyday situations explains Kirtikar She adds that since people from various professions join their classes they also accommodate special requests For instance a doctor once needed to learn how to communicate with patientsShanta GokhaleThe online course marks one of the first virtual ventures by the iconic regional institution As someone who takes pride in her mother tongue Ill feel honoured if people from all over the country and world join in Kirtikar shares Noting that although an online course may help MMSS take the language to a larger audience writer translator and critic Shanta Gokhale cautions that the act of teaching oneonone is almost like a performing art Direct classes are never large and teaching them becomes effective In online courses if one likes it they stick to it or they dont Its a needbased situation But if there is a need then the pandemic in a way helps you to move out of a set structure and have a wider reach Dr Leena Kedare HOD Marathi Ramnarain Ruia Autonomous College meanwhile welcomes the idea Its a good thing that MMSS is using this opportunity to introduce the online course as it becomes accessible to so many people including those Marathis who want the younger generation to keep in touch with their roots In the current scenario language is going to serve as a bridge to bring people from different communities closer she says adding that this course can be a step towards thatOn Sundays from 9 am to 11 am first batch starts in January email sahityasanghagmailcom to register by December 15 Cost Rs 5000 for a threemonth course Keep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current affairs and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest news