Classical Marathi Language Week: Fadnavis calls for greater use of Marathi in AI, technology

Marathi should be used not only in daily life but also in modern fields such as Artificial Intelligence AI quantum computing space technology and biotechnology Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Saturday calling for the language to be strengthened as a digital and knowledge language in the 21st centuryFadnavis made the remarks while inaugurating the Classical Marathi Language Week and Classical Marathi Language Honour Day at Patkar Hall of Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Womens University in Churchgate The celebrations are being held following Marathis recognition as a Classical Language by the Central GovernmentldquoMarathi is not merely a medium of communication it is a carrier of our rich culture and a witness to our glorious historyrdquo Fadnavis said highlighting the languages extensive vocabulary literary tradition and diverse dialectsFadnavis said Marathi had always been an ancient and classical language but its official recognition as a Classical Language was a moment of pride for Marathi speakers He said the recognition under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given Maharashtras linguistic and cultural heritage a special place at the national levelHe also recalled Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajs emphasis on the mother tongue alongside the concept of Swarajya and his efforts to increase the use of Marathi in administrationFadnavis highlights Marathis rich vocabularyFadnavis said Marathi ranks 13th among the most widely spoken languages in the world and described it as a global languageHe further stated that the Marathi Encyclopaedia and Shabdarathnakar compiled in the 20th century contain 11 to 13 lakh words In comparison the Oxford Dictionary contains around six lakh words while Mandarin Spanish and French have approximately three to threeandahalf lakh words he saidThe Marathi dictionary published by the state government currently contains around three lakh words Fadnavis stressed the need for subsequent editions and for expanding the documented vocabulary to 13 lakh wordsHe said this linguistic wealth should not remain merely a matter of pride but should be effectively used in modern knowledge creationldquoIf concepts in science technology economy education and research are made available in Marathi the language will truly become a language of knowledgerdquo he saidFadnavis calls for Marathi AIFadnavis said communication mediums were changing rapidly because of digital technology and Marathi needed to be connected with new technologiesHe called for the effective use of Marathi in Artificial Intelligence through Marathi AI greater availability of information and knowledge content in Marathi on digital platforms and the creation of quality Marathi content on OTT platforms and social mediaHe said Marathi should be used increasingly at home in education administration business technology and social media Fadnavis said making knowledge content available in Marathi in advanced fields such as quantum computing space technology and biotechnology would give the younger generation an opportunity to acquire modern knowledge in their mother tongueDialects and Marathi theatre also highlightedFadnavis stressed the importance of preserving the dialects spoken across Maharashtra saying they were an invaluable part of the languages heritageHe mentioned dialects including Konkani Varhadi KhandeshiAhirani Malvani Dangi and Zadi Boli saying they embodied local culture folk traditions and experiences of life He called for their literature folk traditions and linguistic characteristics to be preservedHe also highlighted Marathi theatre saying several generations had kept its rich tradition alive despite having limited access to modern technological tools Through their acting writing and experimentation artists had given Marathi theatre a distinct identity he saidNext Vishwa Marathi Sahitya Sammelan to be held in LondonDeputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said Marathi was not merely an identity of Maharashtra but also its pride and noted that the language had reached communities across the worldHe further stated that the state government was committed to ensuring that Marathis global expansion progressed further and called for increased use of the language in the digital world social media podcasts gaming and codingShinde said there was a resolve to promote and propagate Marathi in more than 50 countries Along with establishing the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Global Marathi Centre in London the next Vishwa Marathi Sahitya Sammelan would also be organised in LondonAround 70000 to 80000 Marathi people reside in London and initiatives including Marathi education courses and certificate examinations are being conducted through Maharashtra Mandal stated ShindeWork is also underway to establish the Global Marathi Centre in London and a Maharashtra Mandal building has been purchased he saidShinde appealed to people to promote a culture of gifting Marathi books instead of bouquets on birthdays felicitation ceremonies and other occasions He said initiatives such as the Marathi Language Policy Village of Books and Village of Poetry were being implemented to promote Marathi and the reading cultureState to document 100 Marathi dialectsMinister for Marathi Language and Industries Dr Uday Samant said the state government was committed to preserving promoting and expanding Marathi language and culture globallySamant said a Centre of Excellence for the Marathi language at Deccan University in Pune a Global Marathi Centre named after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in London 100 dictionaries documenting various dialects of the state and Marathi Skill Development Centres at nine locations were being establishedHe said initiatives were also being undertaken to strengthen interaction with Marathispeaking communities abroad The Namo Samvad programme had been launched in 75 countries on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modis birthday while online training arrangements were also being made for Marathi communities abroadThe number of international Marathi forums had currently reached 52 with a target of increasing it to 75 he saidSamant also said the state government was expediting the establishment of a Literature Museum and a modern Marathi Bhasha Bhavan taking note of the longstanding demand of litterateursHe said initiatives such as the subcentre at Airoli Village of Books and Village of Poetry were also being implementedMarathi Vishwakosh to be made available digitallyKiran Kulkarni Secretary of the Marathi Language Department said Marathis linguistic tradition could be traced nearly 2500 years back to the Gatha Saptashati and did not begin only during the periods of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj or Chakradhar SwamiHe said the department was committed to researching and preserving this linguistic heritage and transmitting it to the new generation through modern technologyKulkarni said that after Marathi was accorded Classical Language status work had been underway over the past two years to take its classical status linguistic tradition and knowledge heritage to the common peopleHe said this years focus was on promoting and preserving Marathi with the youth at the centreThe work of compiling the Vishwakosh which began under the guidance of Tarkatirtha Lakshmanshastri Joshi has now been integrated with modern technology Work to make the knowledge contained in the Vishwakosh available to the public in digital form is progressing rapidly and the entire Vishwakosh will be available digitally on a portal from this month Kulkarni saidAt the beginning of the programme dignitaries were welcomed with books The book Marathiche Kautuk Partndash2 was released on the occasion followed by a cultural programme based on the theme Classical Marathi Proud Marathi