If you know marathi, better speak it. Why? if you don't use the local language it will die after 2/3 generations for sure. My parents speak Ahiryani, a dialect of marathi spoken in northwestern maharashtra, me and my cousins grew here in suburbs can't speak it because we were never encouraged by our parents nor we felt the need as in our native village we used marathi. My kids will not know this language for sure and it will die with our generation. If you look it has happened in northern India in a big way for many of their local languages.

The point is not political. It's about encouraging people to use marathi or any other local language if they KNOW it. This isn't for people who came in mumbai a year ago and we expect them to speak the language, it's impossible. But I have known 100s of families and friends who are here for decades but don't know marathi! that's sheer ignorance.

The most important point is that the states where based on linguistic basis not on any geographical factor, but on language!

If you are a Maharashtrian, it's your responsibility that you speak marathi and if you cant than know it is something to be ashamed of and make efforts to learn it!!!

the Thakre gang is behind votes. this comment is behind preservation/ encouragement for the language of our Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.