Bowing to a wave of fierce political opposition and concerns over regional identity, the Maharashtra government has abruptly withdrawn two controversial orders that mandated the use of Hindi in official work. The swift U-turn came just days after the directives sparked an outcry across the state's political landscape.The now-scrapped orders had instructed all state and semi-government employees—including those in public corporations and universities—to conduct their official business, from writing notes on files to drafting reports, exclusively in Hindi. This was presented as an implementation of the Centre's three-language policy for states in "Region A."However, the move immediately sparked outrage, with critics slamming it as a direct assault on the primacy of Marathi, the state's official language. The opposition painted it as a blatant attempt to "impose" Hindi and undermine Maharashtra's distinct cultural and linguistic identity.Leading the charge was Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), a party built on the plank of Marathi pride. MNS leaders met with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, delivering a stern warning of statewide agitations if the orders were not rescinded. Other parties, including the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress, quickly joined the chorus of condemnation, accusing the government of sidelining its own language.Faced with mounting pressure and the threat of public protests, the government caved. A new notice was issued by the state's general administration department, explicitly stating that the previous orders were cancelled and that fresh, detailed instructions regarding the three-language policy would be formulated and released in the future.The rapid reversal is a significant victory for regional advocates and a stark reminder of the potent and often sensitive nature of language politics in India. It underscores that in Maharashtra, Marathi remains not just a language, but a core component of political and cultural identity that cannot be easily overlooked.
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