Nashik, March 1 The fourth World Marathi Conference concluded in Nashik on Sunday, with the three-day event witnessing participants from India and countries like the US, Germany, Norway, France, and the Netherlands experiencing the richness of the language.
The conference, with the theme 'Abhiman Marathi, Abhijat Marathi' (Love and Preserve Marathi), concluded with a grand ceremony at the Kavivarya Kusumagraj Nagari, set up on the premises of KTHM College here.
Speaking at the event, former Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavai said that the support of rulers is necessary to nurture and preserve art and literature.
"I became the Chief Justice of India after studying Marathi. Such conferences play an important role in taking the Marathi language to the global level," he said.
State School Education Minister Dada Bhuse highlighted the steps taken by the government to promote Marathi, including making the language compulsory in all schools.
"In the CBSE syllabus, the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was only in one and a half paragraphs. However, with the efforts of the Maharashtra government and the cooperation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, 21 pages will be dedicated to the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and overall Maratha history in the CBSE syllabus books," he said.
Legislative Council chairperson Ram Shinde said that, like the Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU), Marathi Language University branches should be established at the district level.
"The preservation of Marathi is the duty of everyone," said Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar.
Marathi Language Minister Uday Samant announced the 'Marathi Bhasha Sevekari Award', which will be given to organizations and individuals working for the preservation and conservation of the language. The first award was given to the Nashik District Maratha Vidya Prasarak Samaj (NDMVPS) education institute.
Samant also announced that the next World Marathi Conference will be held in Nagpur.
On the occasion, the second Kala Ratna Award was presented to the singer-composer duo Ajay and Atul Gogavale, who performed some melodious songs. Tarpa player and Padma Shri awardee Bhiklya Dhinda also played the instrument and introduced the gathering to traditional tribal music.
