Maharashtra to support Marathi schools in US run by diaspora

Marathi community schools in the United States may soon receive formal recognition and support from the Maharashtra government, following a recent assurance by Ashish Shelar, the state’s Minister for Information Technology and Cultural Affairs.

During a visit to San Francisco’s Bay Area, Shelar met with members of the Maharashtra Mandal, an organization that manages several language and culture schools run by volunteers from the Marathi-speaking diaspora.

These schools, operating without formal affiliations, focus on teaching children the Marathi language along with lessons in local traditions, history, and culture.

The Bay Area center, which has been active since 2005, currently has around 300 students enrolled. Across the country, over 50 similar institutions rely on community involvement to stay functional.

Mandal representatives requested government assistance in the form of standardized curricula, assessment systems, and recognition frameworks.

They said formal certification would enhance the credibility of these institutions, ease administrative efforts, and possibly encourage more parents to enroll their children.

In response, Shelar said he would raise the matter with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and School Education Minister Dada Bhuse.

He assured the gathering that the Maharashtra government would provide comprehensive support, including curriculum access, endorsement letters, and required documentation to help the schools operate more effectively.

“These schools are helping preserve the language and culture thousands of miles away. We will stand behind them,” Shelar said.

The minister's assurance comes amid growing acknowledgment of the diaspora's role in sustaining regional languages abroad.

While these schools are not officially recognized under any educational board, they continue to play a vital role in keeping Marathi alive among younger generations overseas.

With government support now promised, community members are looking forward to clearer frameworks and long-term institutional backing for their educational initiatives.