Navigating the Gujarati-Marathi Political Dispute: A Leader's Call for Non-Violence

Key Highlights :

1. A signboard in Ghatkopar East was vandalised and a poster was affixed to it. Shiv Sena UBT claimed it was done by individuals who have an affinity for Marathi culture.

2. A few years ago, during the beautification of the traffic island between Mahatma Gandhi road and station road, the BMC installed three signboards in English, Marathi and Gujarati, all of which referenced ‘My Ghatkopar.’ The Gujarati one was defaced.

3. ADVERTISEMENT A leader has been cited in this paper stating that some Marathi-loving persons may have done this as Gujarati is not an official language in the state. Go through the proper channels to get the board removed even if one thinks that it should not be there. There is a process in place and it should be followed, if somebody thinks that a signboard should not be in a particular language. This is also vandalism, as it is defacing public property and it must be seen as such.

4. Even if one does not agree that the board should be in a particular language, disfiguring, defacement, breakage or defiling is a crime. Let us also be careful not to create internal divisions and bitterness. Political leaders may want such rifts because it serves their purpose of seen as the saviours of such and such a community. Yet, it is important that we as a people understand that acts like these create deep divisions, which are then played up by those with vested interests.

5. Social media gets into the mix by roiling sentiments and we see a fractured society, where hate and bitterness brim over and one is pitted against the other, to the detriment of all. Take recourse to correct channels, even if it takes longer than one thinks to see some action. Communities here cannot be driven into inane, internecine rivalries.

     In yet another Gujarati-Marathi political dispute, a ‘My Ghatkopar’ signboard in Ghatkopar East was vandalised and a poster was affixed to it. Shiv Sena UBT claimed it was done by individuals who have an affinity for Marathi culture. The BMC had installed the signboard in English, Marathi and Gujarati, all of which referenced ‘My Ghatkopar’. The Gujarati one was defaced.

     A leader has been cited in this paper stating that some Marathi-loving persons may have done this as Gujarati is not an official language in the state. He has called for people to go through the proper channels to get the board removed even if one thinks that it should not be there. He has also warned against creating internal divisions and bitterness, as it serves the purpose of political leaders to be seen as the saviours of certain communities.

     It is important to understand that acts of vandalism, disfiguring, defacement, breakage or defiling are crimes and must be seen as such. Such acts create deep divisions, which are then played up by those with vested interests. Social media further roils sentiments and we see a fractured society, where hate and bitterness brim over and one is pitted against the other, to the detriment of all.

     Therefore, it is essential that we take recourse to correct channels, even if it takes longer than one thinks to see some action. Communities here cannot be driven into inane, internecine rivalries. We must be careful to ensure that we do not create further divisions, and instead work towards creating a harmonious society. We must remember that violence is never the answer and that there are always better ways to resolve disputes.

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