Pratap Sarnaik says Hindi has become people’s language of Mumbai
Mumbai, May 31: Maharashtra’s Cultural Minister Ashish Shelar expressed his non-consent with spreading hatred in the name of language in states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, stating that language is a medium of communication, not of conflict. He emphasized that language has always served to connect people and should not be used to divide them. Those who spread hatred in the name of language should draw inspiration from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.
Speaking at a Hindi Patrakarita Diwas event organized by the Mumbai Hindi Patrakar Sangh at the Uttar Bhartiya Sangh’s auditorium in Bandra East, Mr Shelar, who is also Mumbai BJP chief, said that all Indian languages deserve respect and have their own importance. Criticizing those who stir up language-based disputes for political reasons, the Mumbai BJP chief emphasised the contribution of Marathi-speaking editors such as Vishnurao Paradkar, Madhavrao Sapre, Ramkrishna Khadilkar, and Thatte Ji in enriching and establishing Hindi journalism.
He added, “A true journalist cannot be anyone’s friend. A journalist is a friend of their thoughts and principles. Those who respect this stance may indeed find a friend in a journalist.”
At the same event, State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik stated that Hindi has become the common language of Mumbai. Despite this, he remarked, some people spread hatred in the name of language to protect their own relevance, but when the time comes, the public clearly expresses disagreement with such views. He further said, “Anyone who knows Hindi also knows Marathi, and vice versa.” Mr. Sarnaik emphasized that the coordination between Hindi and Marathi is one of the reasons the Mahayuti (grand alliance) government is functioning smoothly.
Former Minister Chandrakant Tripathi, MLC Rajhans Singh, MLA Sanjay Upadhyay, and Siddhivinayak Temple Treasurer Acharya Pawan Tripathi also shared their thoughts at the event.
Additionally, Prof. Sanjay Dwivedi, former Director General of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), delivered the keynote address and spoke in detail about the journey of Hindi and Hindi journalism. He stated that “the sun never sets on digital media”, as it has no boundaries. Everything on digital platforms has the potential to be global. According to him, in just 200 years, the development Hindi has seen is largely due to mass communication media. No other language has spread so rapidly, even as the country’s elite continues to suffer from colonial hangovers and remains steeped in “Angreziaat” (Englishness). Mr Dwivedi praised the media and entertainment industry for their historic contributions to the growth of Hindi.
During the event, industrialist Gyan Prakash Singh, senior journalists Vimal Mishra, Sahil Joshi, Prof. Brijesh Mishra, and Yatendra Singh Yadav were honored with the Hindi Seva Samman.
The event was organized by Sangh’s president, Aditya Dubey, and general secretary Vijay Singh Kaushik, who welcomed the guests. Among the notable attendees were MLA Murji Patel, office bearers of the Hindi Patrakar Sangh including Rajkumar Singh, Surendra Mishra, Akhilesh Mishra, Ashok Shukla, and Harigovind Vishwakarma, as well as prominent figures from the fields of politics, literature, and journalism. The program was conducted by Abhay Mishra
