Maharashtra plans London language centre and Rs 34 crore Airoli facility
The Maharashtra government has announced a major initiative to promote the Marathi language globally and locally, including the purchase of the historic Maharashtra Mandal building in London and the development of a Rs 34 crore satellite language centre in Airoli. Industries and Marathi Language Minister Uday Samant announced the plans in the Legislative Council during a discussion under Rule 92, stating that the new London centre is expected to open within the next two months.
The state government acquired the London property for Rs 5 crore to establish the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Global Marathi Language Centre. The initiative is part of a broader vision to give the Marathi language a stronger global identity. According to Samant, the government is also planning 75 international Marathi forums worldwide, of which 39 are already operational.
In addition to international expansion, the government is executing major infrastructure projects within Maharashtra. Construction of the Marathi Bhasha Bhavan in Mumbai is progressing and is scheduled to be completed by December 2027. Meanwhile, the satellite language centre in Airoli will be built to expand local linguistic resources.
These announcements follow the recent granting of Classical Language status to Marathi. While the state has submitted a proposal to the central government to set up a Centre of Excellence for Marathi studies, Samant stated that the state has proceeded with its own promotional initiatives without waiting for central approval.
Among these measures is the revival of the Late Yashwantrao Chavan Translation Committee, which will translate the literary works of rural Marathi writers into other languages. The state will also provide financial support to preserve and promote the literary works of historic saints, including Dnyaneshwar, Tukaram, and Nivruttinath.
To improve policy implementation, the government plans to appoint a District Language Officer in every district within the next month. It is also exploring the appointment of language representatives at the village level.
Furthermore, as part of the birth centenary celebrations of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, Marathi Language Development Centres will be established across the state in Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Amravati, Nagpur, Chandrapur, Pune, Kolhapur, and Ratnagiri.
