Language chauvinism has taken centre stage in Maharashtra, in general, and Mumbai, in particular, as yet another report of MNS ‘workers’ (read goons) thrashing a Gujarati shopkeeper came to light. This is a dangerous trend which if not controlled can spiral into anarchy threatening Hindu unity.

MNS workers assault shopkeeper

Jodhpur Sweets owner was assaulted by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers, including Mira Bhayandar Deputy Mayor Karan Kadangire, after he responded in Hindi. The incident took place in Mumbai’s suburb Mira Road.

According to available information, MNS workers were passing by and stopped for a drink of water. However, when the owner responded in Hindi, the workers demanded that he reply in Marathi. When the shopkeeper refused to comply to their demands, he was accused of insulting Maharashtra’s language and culture. The goons did not stop at the accusation but went on to assault him as well.

The Kashimira police have registered a case against the accused under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita. While investigations are underway authorities have asked people from all communities to maintain calm.

Language chauvinism takes over Maharashtra politics

As BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) elections draw closer, Raj Thackeray has adopted language chauvinism as a political tool. His cousin Uddhav Thackeray has joined the bandwagon for fear of being left behind in the BMC electoral race.

In April, Thackeray had called for violence against non-Marathis. His party goons seem to be following his instructions to very loyally. Taking a cue from his speech, since April, MNS workers have been harassing Hindus across the state. After assaulting a D-Mart employee, MNS workers were seen harassing a security personnel in Mumbai. A hotel employee was beaten with an iron pipe in Satara for not speaking in Marathi.

Funnily, neither Thackeray nor Stalin, from whom Thackeray has borrowed the chauvinism leaf, are bothered about Urdu replacing the state language in their respective states. As we have repeatedly mentioned, asking people to learn the state language is not wrong, but assaulting and harassing them for the same is hooliganism that should never be tolerated. Raj Thackeray wanted his workers to ‘ensure bank employees’ speak Marathi. But we have never heard him asking his workers to ensure no ‘Urdu imposition’ in Maharashtra.

You would recall that we spoke about dividing the Hindu Samaj using language chauvinism. Urdu, willingly or forcibly, has come to be associated with Muslims, and hence, we see neither Raj Thackeray nor MK Stalin or Udyanidhi Stalin speak about it for fear of hurting their ‘votebanks.’ We would have expected better from the MNS chief, but his lack of ideology and frequent flip-flops raise suspicion about his seriousness as a political player.

Language chauvinism threatens Hindu unity

Mocking Hindu beliefs and using caste card to create divisions in Hindu Samaj are tactics used by Congress and its INDI Alliance partners like DMK. However, both these are yielding negative results these days as Hindu Samaj has woken up to the reality and refused to give in to their divisive tactics. When their caste card failed, DMK and other INDI alliance states have begun raising the bogey of Hindi imposition. The MNS chief is also going down that path.

No doubt, language is important and an indicator of one’s culture, history and heritage. However, it is the political weaponization of language that hurts the larger Hindu cause. A clear indication of politicization of language is the fact that the government resolution, cancelled by the Fadnavis government, making Hindi compulsory was passed by Uddhav Thackeray. Now, since he is in the opposition, he is acting holier than thou.

If either of the Thackeray brothers were really bothered about Marathi, they wouldn’t be beating up poor hapless Hindus. The fact that the MNS ‘workers’ are least bothered about entering Muslim-dominated areas where Marathi is barely spoken, if at all, shows that all the bravado is less about language and more about optics. This is language chauvinism at its best – divide Hindus while appeasing Muslims!

(Featured Image Source: Open Magazine)