Mumbai: MNVS activists warn Kandivali school to install Marathi signboard

Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena activists at Balbharti High School and College

After shops and establishment, the focus of Raj Thackeray's men shifts to educational institutes over the absence of Marathi displays/signboards. On Wednesday evening, activists of Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS) barged into the gates of Balbharti High School and College in Kandivali West and warned the trustee and school management about potential repercussions if a Marathi board is not installed promptly.

The group also pasted huge stickers of the name of the school in Marathi on the outer walls near the entrance on Wednesday.

The Balbharti group which runs school, junior and degree colleges from the campus in Kandivali displays its name solely in Gujarati. This angered the local MNVS activists who gave them a request letter stating the school must have the name displayed in Marathi too.

Dated February 5, 2024, the letter states, "While we have no objections to the school displaying its name in Gujarati, given its location in Maharashtra, where Marathi is the state language, it is only fitting that the name of the school be displayed in Marathi. This is our humble request."

Despite receiving the request, the school failed to implement a Marathi display board. Consequently, nearly 50 MNVS activists stormed into the school on Wednesday evening, chanting slogans such as "Maharashtra... Marathitach" (In Maharashtra... only Marathi). They proceeded to affix the school's name in Marathi.

Speaking to mid-day, Akhil Chitre, General Secretary of MNVS, remarked, "Despite the Supreme Court's ruling mandating that institutions in Maharashtra display boards in Marathi, some individuals remain steadfast in their resistance. We provided the management with a written request to install a Marathi display board in compliance with the Supreme Court's verdict. However, when we questioned the management on Wednesday, their responses were vague and unproductive. While Rajsaheb's supporters never hesitate to assert the rightful place of individuals, considering the person's senior age and the educational nature of the institution, we opted for patience."

Chitre pointed out that these institutes and establishments operate within the boundaries of Maharashtra, utilizing the state's resources such as land, water, electricity, and all other facilities. So, what could possibly be their objection to displaying their names in Marathi? he stated.

Issuing a warning to the institute's management, Chitre emphasized, "The organization must understand that, for now, we have only affixed a symbolic Marathi display. However, failure to promptly and prominently display the board in Marathi will result in dire consequences. Despite the presence of laws and Supreme Court decisions, the management of institutions in Maharashtra continues to defy regulations by refusing to install Marathi boards. Why does our government, and even the Marathi community, tolerate such defiance?"

Balbharti management's trustee and president Hemang Tanna, could not be contacted.