Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Calls for Wider Use of Marathi in AI
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis made the remarks while inaugurating the Classical Marathi Language Week and Classical Marathi Language Honour Day programme in Mumbai on Saturday.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has called for Marathi to be developed as a digital and knowledge language, with greater use of the language in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, space technology and biotechnology. He made the remarks while inaugurating the Classical Marathi Language Week and Classical Marathi Language Honour Day programme in Mumbai on Saturday.
Push for ‘Marathi AI’
Fadnavis said Marathi should move beyond its traditional use in daily communication and become part of modern technology and knowledge creation.
He called for wider use of Marathi in artificial intelligence and digital technology, along with greater availability of information and educational resources in the language on digital platforms.
The Chief Minister also urged the creation of more quality Marathi content for OTT platforms and social media.
Knowledge in Marathi
Fadnavis said advanced subjects such as quantum computing, space technology and biotechnology should be made accessible in Marathi so that younger generations can learn about emerging areas of knowledge in their mother tongue.
He also stressed that Marathi's preservation should not remain limited to government initiatives. He called for greater use of the language at home, in education, administration, business, technology and social media.
Focus on Vocabulary and Dialects
Highlighting Marathi's extensive literary and linguistic heritage, Fadnavis said the vocabulary documented in government Marathi dictionaries should be expanded through successive editions.
He also emphasised the need to preserve dialects including Varhadi, Khandeshi-Ahirani, Malvani, Dangi and Zhadiboli, saying they reflect the cultural traditions and experiences of different regions.
The Maharashtra government is also working on initiatives to document around 100 Marathi dialects through dictionaries.
Marathi’s Global Expansion
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said Marathi should have a stronger presence in modern areas including social media, podcasts, gaming and coding.
Shinde said the next World Marathi Literary Conference would be held in London and announced plans for a Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Global Marathi Centre there. He said an estimated 70,000 to 80,000 Marathi-speaking people live in London.
Government Initiatives
Marathi Language and Industries Minister Uday Samant said work was underway on a Centre of Excellence for Marathi at Deccan College in Pune, a global Marathi centre in London, dictionaries covering 100 dialects and Marathi skill development centres at nine locations. The government also plans to strengthen the digitisation of Marathi's literary heritage. Marathi Language Department Secretary Kiran Kulkarni said the Marathi encyclopaedia was being digitised and would be made fully available through an online portal.
Background
The programme was organised following the Centre's recognition of Marathi as a classical language. Fadnavis said the recognition was a matter of pride for Marathi speakers but stressed that preserving the language also requires adapting it to contemporary fields. The government's latest push therefore seeks to combine Marathi's traditional literary and cultural heritage with its wider use in technology, digital platforms and emerging areas of knowledge.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 04, 2026 09:06 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
