By Arpita Ghosh Rucha Kanolkar
Amid the ongoing political and social debate around the Marathi language in Maharashtra, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai made a significant remark that subtly reflected the current discourse. Speaking at an event in Mumbai during his visit to his childhood school, the CJI began by expressing his dilemma over which language to use Marathi or English. “I was confused whether I should speak in Marathi or English…madam spoke in Marathi but I think there are many who don鈥檛 understand,鈥 said CJI Gavai. Then, switching to Marathi, he added, “啶ぐ啶距啷啶 啶啶侧? 啶膏啶赤啶ぞ啶傕え啶 啶膏ぎ啶溹啶 啶曕ぞ? 啶犩啶 啶嗋す啷, 啶嗋い啶 啶す啶距ぐ啶距し啷嵿啷嵿ぐ啶距い 啶膏啶班 啶嗋す啷 啶膏ぇ啷嵿く啶…” (Should I speak in Marathi? Will everyone understand? Alright, it鈥檚 ongoing in Maharashtra right now…”) After this, CJI Gavai continued the rest of his speech in Marathi, drawing attention and praise for choosing to speak in his mother tongue. His comments have come at a time when the politics around enforcing or promoting Marathi usage in Maharashtra is heating up, especially after recent controversies involving celebrities and politicians. The CJI on Sunday also visited classrooms at his alma mater, Chikitsak Samuh Shirodkar School, and interacted with his old classmates. He also emphasised the importance of learning in one鈥檚 mother tongue, saying, 鈥淚 myself studied in a Marathi-medium school. Studying in one鈥檚 mother tongue leads to a deeper understanding of subjects and helps build strong values that stay with you for life.鈥 Having studied from primary to secondary levels at this very institution, he expressed deep gratitude to the teachers who shaped his early life, an official release stated. “Whatever position I have reached today, my teachers and this school have played a significant role in it. The education and values I received here gave direction to my life. My journey in public speaking began on this very stage. Through speech competitions and cultural programs, I gained confidence. It is because of those opportunities that I am what I am today,” he said. Recalling his schooling in Marathi-medium, the CJI stated that studying in one’s mother tongue helps in better conceptual understanding, and also instils strong values that stay with you for life. Born on November 24, 1960, at Amravati in Maharashtra, Justice Gavai was elevated as an additional judge of the Bombay High Court on November 14, 2003. He became a permanent judge of the High Court on November 12, 2005. He was sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) in May, succeeding Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who demitted office on May 13. He will hold office till November 23, 2025. (With PTI inputs)