Mumbai: Maharashtra celebrated Marathi Bhasha Gaurav Din on February 27. The day marks the birth anniversary of poet Kusumagraj, also known as Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar, who was awarded the Jnanpith Award. Maharashtra also celebrates Marathi Rajbhasha Din on May 1 to mark the day in 1960 when Marathi was declared the state's official language.

On Thursday, Marathi speakers greeted each other with the words: 'We are fortunate to speak Marathi, Blessed to listen to Marathi. Marathi considers all religions, castes, and creeds as one. In this vast world, Marathi is my mother.'

Cultural events, book releases, and literary events marked the day. Colleges and schools held special events to promote the language. There were also calls for preserving the language. Sanatan Sanstha issued a statement asking Marathi speakers not to insert English words and phrases while speaking the language. "We can convey our emotions only if we speak the language in its pure form. If it is mixed with English, it is not longer Marathi," said Mahendra Saharsabudhe of Sanatan Sanstha.

Others reminded that Marathi has been enriched by adopting words from languages like Telugu, Kannada, Hindi, and Persian.

To celebrate the day, the Maharashtra Postal Circle, released a special cancellation and a special postcard on Marathi Bhasha Gaurav Din at Mumbai General Post Office. Achut Palav, Padma Shri awardee and calligrapher attended the event along with Ganesh Matkari, writer, and Amitabh Singh, Chief Postmaster General, Maharashtra Circle.

Speaking at the event, Palav emphasised the need for written communication in today’s modern digital world. He stated that in today’s times of Whatsapp, SMS and emails written communication has taken a back seat and there is a need to revive this vital skill amongst the youth. Regarding Marathi, he stated that there is a huge demand for creative artists and calligraphers in the market. He appealed to the young generation to enhance their verbal and written communication in their mother tongue.

Matkari emphasised the need to use Marathi in official communication in government offices. He also highlighted the importance of including Marathi in the school curriculum. He also stated that technical books on higher studies like law, engineering, and medicine, should be translated into Marathi.

Singh stated that Marathi has a rich socio-cultural heritage and now as Marathi has received classical language status, it is important for us to take immediate measures for its documentation and conservation. He also announced that Maharashtra Postal Circle will release philatelic items highlighting Maharashtra’s unique history and heritage. These philatelic items are collectibles that will travel throughout the world and disseminate knowledge and information about Maharashtra and the Marathi language.