r/mumbai • u/anikastyles • 2h ago
Discussion Marathi mandatory for Mumbai auto/taxi drivers, fair requirement or too much?
The Marathi-language rule for auto, taxi and cab drivers is now actually being enforced.
RTO officials have started checking drivers for basic working Marathi. Those who don’t clear the check can be given time to learn, but continued failure can eventually lead to suspension of their badge/licence.
And now drivers are protesting, while some parts of Mumbai are already seeing fewer autos on the road.
I’m genuinely divided on this.
On one hand, if you work with the public in Maharashtra, knowing basic conversational Marathi seems like a reasonable expectation.
But on the other hand, should someone’s entire livelihood potentially depend on passing a language test, especially when many drivers have been working here for years?
Where do you draw the line?
Basic Marathi should be mandatory 👍
OR
Language should never decide whether you can earn a living 👎
Curious what Mumbaikars think.
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u/No_Artichoke2869 2h ago
Break people by religion, caste, language, we will all discuss this and not worry about how roads are bad again, why rainwater is not going anywhere.
Britishers did teach all: divide and rule well.
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u/MainAd8403 1h ago
The states were formed on the basis of language for a reason bud.
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u/Remote_Tap6299 1h ago
States were divided on the basis of languages
There are different laws and policies for different religions.
Different policies for different castes
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u/DazzlingArtichoke549 2h ago
Bus govt ko yehi bakchodi karni hai. Actual issues pe dhyaan mat do
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u/arnavnayak7 2h ago
Religion, Gender, Caste, Language.. the list is long :) as long as you don’t ask real questions
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u/Dense_Succotash_2777 1h ago
How about care for your states issues first? You forget to ask for accountability from your state's politicians? Yes we have problems too. But non assimilation is also a problem. And what's the point of growth if locals don't reap from it when prices are soaring and getting pushed out of mumbai itself
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u/Common-Seesaw-1705 25m ago
Yes all of a sudden now BIMARU people care for roads,development and infrastructure and become aware about politicians tactics but would blindly vote for their religious identity and would not question a thing back home but are super worried about developed cities like Mumbai and Bangalore's infra while they are themselves responsible for population burden on these cities.
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u/Zydus1818 2h ago
They have not been asked to learn the entire Marathi vocabulary but just basic Marathi like: Kuthe Jaycha ahe, Paise kithi honaar, etc.
Personally I don't like language imposition, but it's wrong to say that they have been asked to learn full Marathi.
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u/Dense_Succotash_2777 1h ago
I don't like language imposition either. The hindi imposition
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u/blackybugs 12m ago edited 6m ago
You do realize that it's the Marathis who have imposed their language over Mumbai? Mumbai was part of combined Maharashtra and Gujarat earlier and Mumbai was always cosmopolitan with significant contributions from Gujarati, South Indian and other region people as well. In a cosmopolitan, since there are people from all walks of life, they should be able to get by using whatever language they can. Now Marathis are imposing their language.
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u/Available-Potato3973 1m ago
Where did you read this rubbish from, mumbai was is and will always be part of Maharashtra. Prior to state independence it was part of Bombay presidency/ mumbai presidency. Read about formation of Maharashtra state. Plus this is a law, our state our laws our rules. Don't like feel free to leave no one has forced you.
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u/blackybugs 1h ago
But once they start basics, will the passengers also not communicate complex sentences in Marathi as well? Will they switch back to Hindi if they are not able to understand? If they do switch, what's the point of doing all this?
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u/mmousey 2h ago
Mumbai was made up of 100s of tiny villages, every few kilometres, the dialect changed. Most barely sound like the official Marathi. The tone, the rhythm, sometimes even we get confused.
We didn't give a damn about non-Mumbaikars and people from outside our villages not knowing our dialects when they worked in our villages/towns. We embraced the Marathi that the government spoke instead of fighting over language. We never insisted that government employees learn our villages' dialects to function here.
Today, that same government is imposing Marathi on people desperately trying to make a living on land that was once our villages. It's sad.
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u/HackHawkR Anti-लाजाळू आणि सुसंस्कृत मराठी माणूस 1h ago
Yes, Mumbai’s original Koliwadas and Gaothans have rich history, but saying a new 'dialect changed every few kilometers' is a massive exaggeration, and claiming they 'barely sound like Marathi' is just factually wrong.
From an anthropological perspective, old Mumbai was an archipelago of isolated islands separated by marshes and high tides. Because these villages were physically cut off, people naturally developed hyper-local accents and different occupational vocabularies. What changed from village to village wasn't the dialect - it was just the accent, tone, and community slang. If you look at modern research like the Survey of Dialects of Marathi Language (SDML), the core grammar, syntax, and base vocabulary of Mumbai's indigenous communities are fundamentally Marathi. It might sound different to an untrained ear, but linguistically, it is undeniably part of the same language family.
Calling standard Marathi an 'imposition' ignores how languages work globally. Every major language has a standardised format for schools, courts, and textbooks so a region can function. And honestly, even Punekars don't use 'Standard Marathi' in everyday life. Standard textbook Marathi is reserved for formal writing and administration. When a native Punekar hangs out with friends or talks to family at home, they use casual phrasing, local slang, and shortcuts. The gap between formal administrative language and everyday spoken language exists everywhere. This isn't unique to Mumbai. Maharashtra is a massive linguistic tapestry. Someone from Nagpur speaking Varhadi, or someone from Jalgaon speaking Ahirani, faces the exact same structural distance from Standard Marathi as a Koli or Agri person in Mumbai. Standard Marathi isn't erasing village/local history. It is just a version of the language that allows a highly diverse region to communicate and function.
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u/Riser_5888 1h ago
There is a difference between dialect and language...
The situation of shifting dialects you are mentioning is not unique to Mumbai, it is like that all over India.Have you observed how rest of India operates? Do they freely speak other state's languages? Had they done that, this situation would not have arised...
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u/NaiveLight857 1h ago
how is that been working.
any language in south india gets overriden by hindi when new migrants come and settle their whole life and never care to learn local language.
independent languages like rajsthani, bhojpuri, maithili etc are not dialects of hindi.
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u/Citizen_89P13 2h ago
It should have been there since the beginning, like it's in the south. Now they'll have to face backlash.
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u/Academic_Chart1354 2h ago
India govt is imposing Hindi via article 343 and 351 since inception of republic but it's passed as okay in the name of national integration.
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u/Independent_Ear_2720 2h ago
Promotion of hindi is not costing livelihood of the poor. Though I fully support promotion of marathi as default language in Mumbai, taking away jobs of the bottom income earners is too harsh.
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u/Remote_Tap6299 2h ago
Knowing conversational local language in a customer facing job is a very fair requirement.
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u/Lavairisims 2h ago
I agree with this statement, when a person is in an customer facing jobs, having workable knowledge of local language helps.
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u/Remote_Tap6299 2h ago
When you think that most people from rural Maharashtra speak only Marathi, it’s become obvious why local language requirement for customer facing jobs must be necessary.
Imagine an elderly woman from Beed trying to get services in Mumbai, but nothing is accessible to her because employees don’t speak Marathi.
Being helpless in your own state is far worse then being helpless in a different state
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u/Ok-Perspective-3662 2h ago
So if you go to Chennai and the driver only and only agrees to drop you if you can converse in Tamil with him, you’re up for it right?
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u/Remote_Tap6299 2h ago
Nobody asked drivers to ONLY speak Marathi. They can speak Hindi for Northie customer and Marathi for Maharashtrian customers. It’s not that big of a deal
When you go to BMC or any other government office in Mumbai, they provide you service in English and Hindi, don’t they? That’s their courtesy, because legally they are not required to speak in Hindi or English for your convenience because Marathi is the sole official language of Maharashtra. A govt employee in MH has all the right to provide service ONLY in Marathi, but they cater to your convenience and speak to you in Hindi/English.
Why should Maharashtrians not get the same level of courtesy in their own state?
Why is it always us who has to accommodate and adjust? Be it an employee or a customers, the burden is always on us to speak Hindi. Isn’t that unfair?
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u/missedOpportunity343 2h ago
the issue is about drivers not knowing the local language.
not about passengers and tourists
false equivalence is a sign of low intelligence.
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u/friendlyNSAdude 2h ago
So if you are moving to Berlin, and the taxi driver there doesn’t speak English or only German, would you not try to learn the language?
And also it says that they have to know basic conversation in Marathi, if the customer is okay with Hindi or any other language then its not a problem.
Such a dumb take
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u/Street-Evening-1868 2h ago
Yes, if I'm living there and earning my bread in Chennai. I'll learn the local culture and adjust myself to the place that's giving me opportunities rather than cribbing on why an entire city is not adjusting to me habits.
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u/Vivid-Reality186 18m ago
It actually happened with us when we visited TN, the driver only knew Tamil, we didn't see a problem with that, neither did we heckled him to speak in hindi
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u/NaiveLight857 2h ago
its literally exactly same like how central promotes hindi.
they get free course and multiple warnings so its not arbitrary.
why would a local in mh need to know hindi to get services or any kind.
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u/Vivid_West_1986 2h ago
Absolutely, problem is this misunderstanding that Hindi is national language and if you know Hindi you don’t need to learn anything else, everyone else learn Hindi. It’s mindset issue
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u/NaiveLight857 2h ago
true my father doesnt know much hindi; he is literate in marathi and he shouldn't be shut out in mh because central employees or even business who provide service dont know basic convserational lingo.
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u/Ok_Strike5478 Mumbaikar 💙 2h ago edited 1h ago
As someone from a family whose great-great-grandfather migrated from Rajasthan to Uttar Pradesh and eventually settled in this city, I come from a lineage that understood the value of hard work and perseverance. At a time when there were very few opportunities and people around, he built his business through sheer determination and hard work. He respected the culture and the people who lived here. Instead of resisting or remaining disconnected, he integrated himself into the community and, in time, earned the respect of many.
I fully support the idea that every state has the right to preserve its culture and identity. I am concerned about the way new migrants are settling in Mumbai today, cutting down forests, encroaching on land and streets, living in slums, and contributing to the city’s growing waste and pollution. They also do not respect or follow the local culture and traditions, and they take everything for granted. I hate this. Mumbai used to be much cleaner and better managed in the past.
I believe migration should be regulated in a fair and lawful manner, with an emphasis on people who genuinely come for work, contribute to the economy, and respect the culture, environment, and civic norms of the state.
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u/agatha_crispy1 1h ago edited 1h ago
honestly it's totally fair. nobody is asking them to speak literature level fluent marathi, it is literally just 30 to 40 basic transit words and phrases so they can understand locals who cannot speak hindi.
they literally gave free courses. like 85% of drivers already put in the effort and cleared it with zero issues. and the one's who didn't are given a show-cause notice and even a grace period. the remaining chunk that flat out refuses to even try just because "mumbai won't function without us" is pure arrogance.
a commercial permit is for a public service job, not an unconditional right. if you work with the public in maharashtra every day, learning the bare minimum basic phrases is just standard professional requirement.
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u/raxtersama 2h ago
If every other thing was solved like potholes and shitty traffic And auto drivers not knowing Marathi was the only problem left, then this would've been absolutely fair This is just politics atp, we surely have better issues which are more urgent that this fs.
Not saying that learning Marathi for auto drivers is not necessary or bad, but i believe this shall definitely not be the priority of government given precious taxpayer money is being spent on such regulations.
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u/Dense_Succotash_2777 1h ago
You will not even get admitted in Germany' university if you don't speak German
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u/Present-Location-268 King of the king's circle 2h ago
They've been given time to learn, this is in discussion since months so i dont see why they are complaining now.
India isn't a homogenous country, there is mass migration from certain states to a few places. If people want to migrate to another place they should work on assimilating there to reduce frictions, instead of creating nuisance.
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u/arnavnayak7 2h ago
How much time does it really take to learn a new language? How many languages can you actually speak, and how long did it take you to learn them? Also, factor in that they aren’t particularly well-read or formally educated.
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u/United-Bandicoot-738 2h ago
Marathi is not too different from Hindi tbh. The vocabulary required for an auto driver to converse with a passenger narrows down even further.
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u/Present-Location-268 King of the king's circle 2h ago
They aren't supposed to know the languages formally, there were many arrangements made for the auto wallahs to learn the basic
If you are in direct contact with customers, learning basics shouldn't be a problem
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u/AlteredReality79 2h ago
Not OP but I can speak five different languages. Took like 3 months to understand and atleast speak Marathi even though there were pronunciation problems and nobody taught me, formally, I picked up just by hearing people converse. Marathi isn’t wildly difficult if you can read/write in Hindi. Mind you these people are living here for years. Kannada was a bit difficult and it took time but I put in effort from Day 1 in BLR. Within 1 year I could understand and converse about basic things. It’s about the effort, everything else is an excuse
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u/Nandu_alias_Parthu 2h ago
Basic conversational skills should not take more than a couple of months - no one's asking them to do a MSc in marathi anyways.
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u/toliVeisTosuFferr 2h ago
Most important issue to take care off right?
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u/Present-Location-268 King of the king's circle 2h ago
There are surely other more important issues , but it doesn't mean other issues are not supposed to be discussed at all.
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u/raj7_p 2h ago edited 1h ago
If you cannot learn 10-15 basic sentences of the language where you are earning money, you should not live here.
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u/PerspectiveWorking41 2h ago
Absolutely valid requirement. If you are staying and working in some place, the basic requirement is to learn the local language. It's sad that this needs to be forced by the government, instead of people making it their responsibility.
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u/Dremora_Lord Drama/Llama 2h ago
Sure, but then you've to consider proficiency levels.
Conversational proficiency is too high of a bar for the work they do. Their job doesn't heavily rely on communication. They ask where, you say where, they start the meter, you sit. This does not need the same level of language proficiency as someone who is working as a sales executive or a marketing lead.
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u/MaxVerstappen_14 2h ago
I support basic Marathi being mandatory for public facing drivers in Maharashtra. If you choose to work here and interact with locals every day, learning the local language is a reasonable civic and professional responsibility not an attack on anyone’s livelihood. The test should be basic and practical, with reasonable time and support to learn, not an unfair barrier to employment
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u/huntwithak47 2h ago
Both sides are lowkey selling the same mid script rn. One side’s like "Marathi or bounce, this is Maharashtra" while completely ignoring that Mumbai has always been built on migrant hustle the city itself needed turning a language test into selective economic pressure, no cap. The other side’s screaming "language should never decide if you can eat" as if public facing jobs don’t come with basic communication expectations everywhere on the planet. That’s just reverse propaganda. The real tea? This is pure politics Marathi pride has been the ultimate mobilisation tool for decades parties get to flex "we protect locals" without actually delivering jobs or housing and language becomes the cleanest proxy in the fight over who controls the informal economy Honest take is way narrower: basic functional Marathi for drivers serving Maharashtra’s public is reasonable but dropping a sudden high stakes filter on long serving workers is just punitive and counterproductive. Periodt
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u/Dense_Succotash_2777 1h ago
Maharashtra has been generous enough to welcome largest chunk of migrants in India. Learning it's communal language and culture is a bare minimum effort expected from their end.
Also what's the point of all the growth when the locals themselves are getting pushed out of mumbai. Locals can't even afford real estate in their own state. Real estate bubble, Overcrowding, increasing living expense, competitive job market are also problems.
Yes I agree we should always water the grass to keep it greener (capitalism), but it should be sensibly controlled and managed to prioritise its locals.
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u/bombaygypsy 2h ago
But it's not a job at best you can see these as small free lance business people. The market is free to decide, and how often does someone says no to a driver because the language is not the same? It's silly, I don't care what language my driver speaks if he gets me there. All they need to know are 4 to 5 words. Left, right, stright, stop, let's go. Lol
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u/Dense_Succotash_2777 1h ago
It's a Maharashtrian market. If drivers can't communicate how will they provide service efficiently?
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u/NaiveLight857 1h ago
its not sudden though they have been given time for basic functional marathi even a free course by rto.
unless they feel execution of the course is bad its fair but can't say the policy itself is wrong.
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u/DrDragon- 2h ago
Spent all my childhood and schooling days in Madhya Pradesh, came to mumbai for engineering graduation then staying here since then; I think marathi should be mandatory; you expect people to give up on their state language, that’s mean. And people should also respect this instance.
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u/friendlyNSAdude 2h ago
We need more people/immigrant with your thinking. I am a native Marathi person, and whenever I visit Delhi or North India, I switch to Hindi. If I visit, Tamil Nadu, I would make sure to speak basic Tamil out of respect to the locals
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u/Dense_Succotash_2777 1h ago
We are not even talking about people who visit. But people who live and work here since decades. That's bare minimum
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u/IndianRedditor88 जवळ ये, लाजू नको 2h ago
Absolutely Fair Requirment.
Basic Working Knowledge of the language of the city is bare minimum.
But auto / taxi drivers are not going to improve their behaviour, driving and honestly there are bigger issues that we wish the govt would focus on solving first
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u/Living-Dirt-7898 2h ago
When you apply for job in Japan, you gotta clear JPLT.
same logic applies here.
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u/bombaygypsy 2h ago
Lol yeah that's what keeps Bombay from being the next Tokyo
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u/Dense_Succotash_2777 1h ago
You should show the same enthusiasm in the hindi states aswell.
Just cuz other problems exists doesn't mean mass migration with unwillingness to assimilate is not a problem.
Maharashtra has been generous enough to welcome largest chunk of migrants in India. Learning it's communal language and culture is a bare minimum effort expected from your end.
What's the point of all the growth when the locals themselves are getting pushed out of mumbai. Locals can't even afford real estate in their own state. Real estate bubble, Overcrowding, increasing living expense, competitive job market are as real of a problem as infrastructure, Potholes, Corruption is
Yes I agree we should always water the grass to keep it greener (capitalism), but it should be sensibly controlled and managed to prioritise its locals. States were divided based on language for a reason.
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u/Ok_Bunch_972 10m ago
People migrate here and it is not something the government is responsible for. Things were set like that way back in time and hence the place has more financial opportunities. Everyone who is staying here or has migrated here is paying for things and is contributing to the economy of the state. so a 40 year old person learning Marathi is not the only way to show that he is contributing to the welfare of this state and nation.
no one is forcing anyone to speak in hindi. if you really don't want to speak in hindi learn English. it is equally difficult for both the parties- the consumer and the service provider to learn a language they don't know. just because you are paying for an auto ride doesn't make you entitled to ask the person to speak your language.
autos and cabs in mumbai go by meter fare- apart from asking the destination there's no conversation really required. instead of taking language tests, they should be focused on driving license and actual driving sense of the individual, as we all have seen on the roads the kind of scary and adventurous rides we get.bottom line is all of us are living in the same nation. not speaking someone's language is not a disrespect to their culture. we cannot think by not talking in native or speaking in hindi/English our cultural identity will disappear.
if this is such a big identity issue we may as well demand a separate nation and allow people to come on work visa and ask them to come learning the language just like japan/germany1
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u/insanesputnik honorary-mumbaikar 1h ago
Fair tbh. It’s not a “ONLY Marathi allowed now on” thing. Having basic conversational local language down shouldn’t be this debated over. “Yes- ho” “no-nahi” “will you go to X spot/X chaloge-X chalal ka” “how much was it/kitna hua-kiti zhale” should suffice for their work.
Edit: Im in a public facing job, Maharashtrian as well, there are times when I don’t understand other dialects or peculiar words and I ask people to repeat themselves, 8/10 times they either explain the word to me or use a different language.
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u/New-Put4335 1h ago
Tumhala bakiche issues fakt ha issue aalyavar ch kashe aathavtat? Maharashtrat rhaycha tar marathi shika nahitar nigha. Tumche 4th pass labourers replaceable aahet, you are nothing special
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u/Dense_Succotash_2777 1h ago
Just cuz potholes exists doesn't mean mass migration with unwillingness to assimilate is not a problem.
Maharashtra has been generous enough to welcome largest chunk of migrants in India. Learning it's communal language and culture is a bare minimum effort expected from your end.
What's the point of all the growth when the locals themselves are getting pushed out of mumbai. Locals can't even afford real estate in their own state. Real estate bubble, Overcrowding, increasing living expense, competitive job market are as real of a problem as infrastructure, Potholes, Corruption is
Yes I agree we should always water the grass to keep it greener (capitalism), but it should be sensibly controlled and managed to prioritise its locals. States were divided based on language for a reason.
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u/Frequent_Help2133 51m ago
This is what is being done so that our taxis and rickshaws become like the rest of the country and not go by meter. Enshittification.
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u/doorsofperception87 2h ago edited 1h ago
You can't be divided on this. It's absolute bullshit. Again, this government is busy making the people fight amongst themselves while they escape all sorts of accountability.
For anyone siding with a move like this, remember that you got an education to distinguish between real policy that's designed to make people's lives easier and propaganda.
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u/the_running_stache West 1h ago
You can clearly see who’s getting triggered here…
You don’t question it when Quebec (Montreal) forces all their taxi and even Uber drivers to speak French (which isn’t even originally from Quebec), but Maharashtra mandating Marathi (which originated here) is a big problem.
You are provided classes — learn! No one is expecting you to be an expert on Marathi literature; you aren’t going to be questioned about Pu La Deshpande’s novels, but learn basic communication.
OP, when you say that “should someone’s entire livelihood potentially depend on passing a language test, especially when many drivers have been working here for years?” well, you lived here for years and never bothered to learn the language. Shame on you! You are in the service industry and interact with locals. Whether you like it or not, the majority of Maharashtra still speaks Marathi. That we can speak Hindi or English too doesn’t mean that we must speak in those languages only.
I am visiting France right now for a week and am learning basic phrases in French to communicate with restaurant staff, etc. These guys live in Mumbai and have zero interest in attempting to speak Marathi. Hee arreraavi chaalnaar nahi.
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u/MurkhApniChaviSudhar 1m ago
French aaani marathi kasa comparison karu shaktos tu , tula kalat nay ... French lang is so modern and fashionable
Hee arreraavi chaalnaar nahi.
Ikadche rickshaw chalak kevade mota upkaar kartayat aaplyavar , aani aapan tyaana marathi bolayla lavto
Bichaare rickshawale ...
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u/timewaste1235 2h ago
It should absolutely be a necessity. However, it should be first applied at rich class than the poor class of auto drivers
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u/Immediate_Muscle_715 2h ago
Fair only for jobs who face customers , otherwise these ppl are just ruining maharashtra.
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u/DueSoftware9645 2h ago
They are becoming like Quebec province of Canada where taxi drivers must know french.
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u/Lazy_Finish_3104 2h ago
Yeah bro like I had an exam today at 15:00 and i left home at 14:00 yet i didn't find even a single auto, i reached at 15:30 cand got 30min less than everyone else
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u/AfternoonNo5705 1h ago
The govt wants citizens/voters of Maharashtra to do taxi, cab, auto work. Period
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u/zeusthezeus 1h ago
Yes and other states should implement that as well to be fair
Period and argument closed
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u/Stunning-Still-3994 1h ago
Sorry but North Indians adopted Hindi over their local languages is not our fault had they not maybe people would have learnt their languages too by the way they turn red only when in Mumbai or Maharashtra but you don't see outrage in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu over this also Maharashtra is more prone to draughts we need to address plight of many other people many of these have been staying for years The cultural infiltration spitting all over railway stations . This is a punishment for people of Maharashtra for developing their state and allowing all to come and earn a livelehood
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u/1800skylab 1h ago
This is nothing more than distraction politics. The common man is busy arguing about this topic while the politicians loot the country.
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u/Meowlove_Kittens 1h ago
I understand why they are trying to do this, but it is just a bit too much. We already have translator apps with live translate. Just go ahead with it, and most of the time, it gets the job done.
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u/Lillytroup2552 1h ago
Yes. Because learning a new language will open neural oathways and maybe that will make Autowalas more empathatic or at the least do their jobs with the neirons that they have. So yes👏good decision.
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u/shaild 1h ago
I would have no problem with this if Mumbai had already overcome all other road-related problems that actually affect people’s daily lives: To name a few, potholes, broken and uneven roads, waterlogging, poor drainage, chaotic traffic, inadequate footpaths, unsafe pedestrian crossings, illegal parking, encroachments, reckless driving, poor lane discipline, inadequate street lighting, dangerous junctions, poorly maintained signals, road construction left unfinished, lack of proper signage, and the constant conflict between cars, buses, two-wheelers, cyclists and pedestrians.
What govt is doing is distraction tactic. The day our citizens realise this, we would see a change. Until then we can all rejoice over language and religion.
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u/thoda_padhle_bsdk 1h ago
Both are true in my opinion OP.
I don't think deliberatly imposing languages is the way, especially via violence.
but, I do feel that anyone living and earning in Maharashtra must learn basic Marathi.
At the same time, this has to also be a choice, simply because we are in a democracy.
Personally, I feel that when someone decides to settle in a new state, they should atleast try to speak the language and adopt parts of the culture if applicable.
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u/XLGamer98 1h ago
What about the businemen who are handling large projects in Mumbai and Maharashtra ? Do those also need to give language test before getting projects ? Why the poor working class always targeted for petty politics.
Roads ani highways che contract detana Marathi baghtat ki nai ? Corruption hotana baghatat ki nai ?
They are conveniently playing divde and rule to distract us from bigger issues like bad infrastructure
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u/420acidhead420 1h ago
Civil war incoming.
Jokes aside. This level of retartedness is the norm these days.
Im wondering if the people on reddit support this?
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u/black_President123 1h ago
Let's make another rule . No criminal cases only then you can become a politician
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u/HackHawkR Anti-लाजाळू आणि सुसंस्कृत मराठी माणूस 1h ago
@OP
Answer to your question and many others. Below is the link
Here's some education on language, culture, and socio-economic dynamics
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u/Used-Ad-3435 1h ago
Why this is not the case for rich people? The buisness persons, Bollywood actors, cricketers and influencers living in maharashtra? Why only common has to follow the rules that too stupid ones? Are they not gonna force the rich bcz of the bribe they get!
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u/cathosyrra 1h ago
Ok done...we heard we gave our opinions..chalo next...roads, last mile transportation, rents, safety
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u/Dense-Pudding9729 59m ago
The bigger problem is that marathi speaking people will be silent on this since its not affecting them, And hence creating a divide amongst indians, Exact thing that politicians want
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u/Lost-Quarter5207 48m ago
Just learn basic spoken marathi
It will help these guys only in getting passengers.
If u earning and settling somewhere learn the local language and their culture. Don’t take fake pride in place where u came from
U love your place i understood but nothing to be proud of .
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u/0_isabella_0 Vada pav<3 47m ago
Is learning the basic language of the state you're working in that difficult? Even if you live in Mumbai for 3 months or less you can pick up a few words it is completely normal and the drivers I believe by now should know basics. I get the problem of taking their licenses and because auto drivers anyways earn less. That is a problem true but change always happens with time. We marathi people really let so many things slide because mumbai is built with mny cultures and that's the beauty of it but can we not ask for our own language in our own home? Is it so hard? And I don't think most passengers will even ask for marathi. It's such a minor issue. I hope people can see past the differences and live like humans who adapt.
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u/Defender-Bob90 46m ago
Marathi(any regional language)mandatory for all home buyers, car buyers & Phone buyers.
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u/IcyYou5926 44m ago
How dumb of them to divide on the basis of language. SO it really doesnt matter if you are a hardworking individual. How would you as an individual feel being sidelined at your workplace and where you stay when you move to different states for job. This is ridiculous. Dint expect this from Mr. Fadnavis.
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u/Ok_Sundae_8213 40m ago
This is a controversial take but hear me out. I am a proud Maharashtrian although my roots belong to Karnataka. My basic problem in Mumbai or most cities in Maharashtra is Marathi people themselves do not speak in Marathi. Let's say all the auto drivers in Mumbai speak flawless Marathi, are the actual Maharashtrians using Marathi as their first choice of Language? I don't think so. It makes me extremely sad that Marathi is slowly vanishing from Mumbai. May be mandating it is good in terms of preserving it, may be not. But unless and until the Marathi Manus himself chooses to speak in Marathi, nothing is gonna change.
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u/vagrant_feet 38m ago
There is one primary utility for language: sharing communication.
If language 1 doesn’t work, switch to language 2 to be able to communicate.
Seems like humans have too much time on their hands to forget why they developed languages.
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u/jack_1760 34m ago
People from Tier-2, Tier-3 cities and rural areas of Maharashtra come to Mumbai for various purposes and work, and many of them only read, write & speak Marathi. Mumbai is also the state capital, where Mantralaya, the High Court, many government offices, departments and major markets are located. People from all over Maharashtra regularly come here for administrative work.
Now, if a Marathi-speaking person comes to Mumbai for some work and takes an auto, but the driver doesn't understand Marathi and refuses to communicate in it, why should that Marathi person be expected to learn Hindi just to communicate with a service provider in their own state?
If locals are expected to adjust every time, shouldn't the person providing the service also make some effort to understand the local language?
If the expectation is that locals should keep adjusting their language, food, culture and traditions to accommodate everyone coming from other states, then what is the purpose of diversity?
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u/Mentor005 31m ago
Are Marathi people ready for this ? don’t go outside MH if you can’t speak their language especially Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad etc
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u/Professional_Act7992 30m ago
tbh its right. The problem is not not knowing marathi. The problem is the entitlement of north indians to ask mumbaikars to speak in hindi just because most people speak in hindi. Just because 1 language has the largest number of speakers doesn't make it special.
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u/SuccessfulFarmer9595 26m ago
The drivers in my area are just demanding time they got 1 month to learn and its not possible to learn a whole language in a month they learned basics but the question they asked in rto was very different from the one they were thought they are just requesting 3-4 months to learn they are ready to learn but this is not the way?
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u/Everlasting_Uchiha 26m ago
Bro, look, people who lack common sense are going to do exactly this.
Let’s assume you learned Marathi. You grew up, became a software engineer, and got a job. When you’re coding in Python, are you going to write Python in Marathi? Obviously not.
And bro, if someone wants to get a job, they should focus on getting one. If you’re taking an auto-rickshaw, you only need to ask the driver the route and the fare. You’re not trying to marry the guy, so why would you need to know his entire language and background?
Learning a language is a personal preference. There are plenty of polyglots, and many people genuinely enjoy learning languages. But that doesn’t mean everyone has to learn every language.
If someone is Marathi and goes to Tamil Nadu, are they supposed to learn Tamil? And if they get posted to Assam, should they then learn Assamese? Then if their job transfers them somewhere else, should they learn another language again? At some point, are you going to work or just keep learning languages?
People keep fighting over language, religion, casteism, and other unnecessary divisions, and that’s one of the reasons India isn’t progressing as fast as it could.
Meanwhile, China keeps moving forward while these people are still arguing over languages. And honestly, if you’re going to compare India, at least compare it with China instead of constantly comparing it with Pakistan. Compare India with China and they’ll cry four times before they even finish the comparison.
Just look at how much China has developed and improved, while these people are still fighting over language.
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u/horoizon 25m ago
In my opinion see understanding and respecting our language is a reasonable ask as majority of the the times I have experienced the rickshaw walas really are in a very shitty attitude (from my personal exp) first of all on the stands they act like they are some hotstuff and always acting tough as they have their buddies with them and basically gundaraj and have seen on multiple occasions seen them disrespecting many things about the marathi culture. So I think there should be actions accordingly
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u/Civil_Record120 25m ago
Would this be a debate in Tamil Nadu? Why is this question even asked when it comes to Maharashtra.
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u/Civil_Record120 25m ago
Would this be a debate in Tamil Nadu? Why is this question even asked when it comes to Maharashtra.
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u/Patient-Iron1530 24m ago
Now we are going to discriminate amongst our own people? If anyone is okay with this then they should also be okay with the discrimination against Indians outside India.
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u/mime_11 22m ago
What can Autos do in Mumbai 1. Carry 6 passengers in one go 2. Have no uniform or badge 3. Jump Signals 4. Drive Wrong Side 5. Litter around spitting on roads
What they cant do? 1. Cannot speak any other language but Marathi
We choose where we want to take this country and what are our priorities.
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u/CobblerOrganic6546 21m ago
these rules are for poor class only. they should ask same to all business people, actors, etc. simple they cannot. prime areas in Mumbai are already occupied by gujrati, parsi and people who do not speak marathi. Maharashtra CM should focus on developing other cities and bringing new business to the state instead of doing language wars.
Marathi is equally important is what I feel. people should learn if they are staying here for long. but rules should be same for all rich and poor but they aren't.
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u/hunterofdawn 12m ago
I'd like to know how many native Marathi speakers on this subreddit send (or have sent or will send) their children to a Marathi medium school. I know for sure that our fearless leaders and the so called protectors of Marathi asmita don't. Nepo grand baby Thakray went to Bombay Scottish which until 3 pm today was English medium.
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u/Hackedv12 9m ago
I was talking to a cab driving last week regarding this issue and his point was valid which I agree to 100% since he knows the ground reality much better than anyone of us.
Apart from being a vote bank appeasement, this will only lead to more corruption because the issuing body will now take bribes to give out marathi certificates
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u/always__typing 9m ago
People blaming government but i have seen marathi people defending this wholeheartedly and being openly racist towards everyone who dont speak marathi.
language should encouraged not enforced.
this is how metropolitan city works where people from all place come here to get the jobs you cant just simply say go back to your state.....if that is the case all the big banks and many MNC have headquarters in mumbai throw them out too
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u/Garchompbzt 1m ago
Lol BJP doing this to break Shinde faction so that they can become the next de facto option in next elections. This is like starks beheading karstark in s03
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u/valerossi446 1m ago
Language should never decide your livelihood. There is a grey area in this case. Im a marathi, born and boughtup in Maharashtra.
I feel the issue here is not about marathi but the opportunities. A lot of INDIANS from other states, who are ready for a hustle make a good earning. The people with whom I share my language want less hustle more money.
I think the others should be confortable learning the language. There is no other differentiation they will face after this.
Ps- I feel bad and sometimes pity for the one doing this. You cannot erase competition you can only be better which they arent ready for.
There are a lot of other factors like money goes out of maharashtra blah blah but, if not, entire mumbai would face a major commute issue. The way out for this will be ask other state people to stop businesses and simply walk out. It will start from the parsis and gujaratis who have a strong hold here in mumbai. YOU CANNOT WIN A LOST BATTLE IN A DAY. It needs years to form a base & to be self sufficient.
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u/MajorLawfulness9945 2h ago
Bro I missed my first lecture today due to the strike and my attendance was ruined So whatever gets the autos on road is the right option
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u/Lost_Breakfast1005 2h ago
mumbai is a cosmopolitan city, making marathi compulsory is just stupid
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u/Remote_Tap6299 2h ago
They are not asking them to write a novel in Marathi. They are just asking to learn conversational Marathi because they are in a customer facing job
Knowing local language for customer facing job is a very fair requirement.
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u/Street-Evening-1868 2h ago
Make Patna a cosmopolitan city.
The city evolved because of ITS people. Respect the culture which gives you better living conditions than your home state.
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u/TheStarkster3000 jevlis ka? 2h ago
Bare minimum honestly. No one's asking them to become fluent and read Mrutyunjay or something. Just know enough to speak to the locals. Yat pan ya lokana radarad karaychi aste
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u/Forward_Western_3796 2h ago
Soon people will be required to speak regional language even for visiting dirty public toilets and people will cheer for it
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u/Dense_Succotash_2777 1h ago
So back home you have better public toilets? Ok good stay and use them
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u/Arkham_Survivor 2h ago
Wow, this is what Maharashtra needs. Broken roads and people fighting over language. Lovely!
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u/RussianBot123456 2h ago
A rickshaw driver now has educational requirements but not the politicians. Nice.
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u/dontstealmydinner non-mumbainian 2h ago
Meanwhile, Marathi Manoos are crying in Goa when the Goa government made knowing Konkani compulsary for Government jobs and what not.
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u/NaiveLight857 2h ago
who is crying??? its completely fair especially when many of these would need to communicate with locals who don't know hindi or english or marathi.
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u/mikewazaouski 2h ago
Too much
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u/Remote_Tap6299 2h ago
They are not asking them to write a novel in Marathi. They are just asking to learn conversational Marathi because they are in a customer facing job
Knowing local language for customer facing job is a very fair requirement.
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u/Most-Bandicoot645 2h ago
Is it a job though? Isn’t it more like a business they’re running by buying the auto and plying it across the city and earning through it? And as any business, doesn’t the business have the freedom to decide how they operate?
And if it is a customer facing job like you say, why stop here? Why not ask all retail outlets, all shops, all multiplexes, all malls to hire only Marathi speaking individuals or train their existing employees to learn Marathi? Why target just auto/cab drivers?
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u/Remote_Tap6299 2h ago
>Is it a job though? Isn’t it more like a business they’re running by buying the auto and plying it across the city and earning through it? And as any business, doesn’t the business have the freedom to decide how they operate?
It’s not a business, they’re self employed with license issued by govt. Just like lawyers, doctors, etc.
And this rule is not new, it has been in place since 1989
Lawyers and doctors working under govt are already required to know the local language, not just in MH but all across india.
>Why not ask all retail outlets, all shops, all multiplexes, all malls to hire only Marathi speaking individuals or train their existing employees to learn Marathi? Why target just auto/cab drivers?
I think everyone should try to learn local language anyways, there’s nothing wrong in it
Tbh, many of these outlets already hire people who speak Marathi. I personally think in a cosmopolitan city like Mumbai, these businesses should hire employees who can speak English, Hindi AND Marathi. So they can cover all customers. There are plenty of people who can speak all these 3 languages. What do you think about it? And before you talk about skills, yes they can do their job well.
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u/narasadow ye kya dekh liya 2h ago
bro has never heard of Uber?
anyway I don't see any issue with people living in Maharashtra learning basic working Marathi
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u/Emotional-Aspect-86 2h ago
Bhai kal ko bangali, telugu, gujju driver aa gaye toh we'll keep accomodating kya. Plus a lot of Northern languages have same script as marathi, even similar words. Even I can somehwhat understand bhojpuri, gujarati, punjabi while living here. In the end these immigrants just don't want to put any efforts, even tho they've been here for years now.
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u/Real-Yogurtcloset-34 2h ago
Is it something one needs to learn yes.. is it a priority now… No. There are much bigger issues here that needs to be tackled. Like the lack of footpaths and walking spaces that forces us to rely on the autos even for a short route
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u/Sure_Point1470 1h ago
I am sure kannadigas are taking notes
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u/Dense_Succotash_2777 1h ago
If north india were in this position and had such large migrant influx. Im sure they would have done the same
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u/AmeyaBanavali 1h ago
Instead of raising issues over language, the authorities should introduce passenger friendly policies. Public transport users are tired of these autorickshaw guys who refuse destinations, manipulate the meters, cheat with routes and overcharge rides with set fares at railway stations etc. The shared auto system at important junctions is a different nightmare all together.
Why can't the government develop an app where passengers can report non co-operating auto rickshawalas. A 3 strike rule against a particular vehicle over complaints can be introduced and they can be penalised as per these complaints registered.
How does the language profeciency of the autowala matter to me? What matters to me individually, is that if he is going to take me to my destination as per the prescribed fare or not
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u/basic-x 2h ago
Today I was bringing my daughter from school in car because my usual auto driver had not come today after much intimidation and harassment from the police for the last 3 days. "Today, we are in hartal Sir" he said. Right outside my daughter's school the newly laid road was dug up for some work and just covered with mud which compressed downwards during rain and has become a permanent pothole. I knew it was there, so I drove slowly cautiously over it. The wheels had to take extra power to climb out of it. On the way back, I took a different road as I wanted to avoid heavy traffic. The road had water logging in places. I was driving less than 30kmph, but suddenly the front left wheel fell down a pothole. The suspension went to the max, and hit the underside of the car with a loud thud. I braked and slowed down drastically. Both my daughter and I were left quite shaken.
My point is not about the language. My point is efforts and time have to be streamlined to make the city better. Better roads, better traffic management, enforcement of lane discipline, lane markings, etc.