States » WestPosted at: Sep 23 2026 10:11PM


Language can strengthen social bonding, not divide Society: Dr Sharad Gore

Pune/Tanjavur Sep 23 ( UNI): At a time when attempts are being made to create social divisions on the basis of caste, religion, sect and language, writers and intellectuals have a responsibility to use language as a means of promoting fraternity and strengthening social harmony, said Dr Sharad Gore, president of the Sarfoji Raje II Marathi Sahitya Sammelan.
The literary conference, organised for the first time in South India at Thanjavur by the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Parishad, highlighted the historic cultural ties between Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. In his presidential address, Dr Gore said literature and intellectual discourse must play a constructive role in countering attempts to create social discord.
He also highlighted the contribution of the Bhonsle dynasty of Thanjavur to literature, culture, art, medicine and research. He said Thanjavur was not merely a geographical region but a meeting point of two rich cultural traditions.
The Maratha presence in Thanjavur began in the late 17th century with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's brother Vyankoji Raje Bhonsle. Dr Gore said the Bhonsle rule contributed to the preservation and development of local culture and facilitated an exchange between Marathi and Tamil traditions.
He pointed out that Dravidian architecture and Maratha painting developed a distinctive cultural synthesis in Thanjavur. The Tamil literary tradition and Marathi saint literature also came together in the region. Raja Serfoji II, he said, was not merely a ruler but a multifaceted patron of knowledge, science, art and literature whose contribution reflected the intellectual awakening of his era.
Dr Gore said the legacy of Serfoji II should be viewed as a valuable heritage of the entire country and proposed four measures for its preservation. He called for complete digitisation of manuscripts at the Sarasvati Mahal Library, particularly those written in Modi script and Sanskrit-Tamil palm-leaf manuscripts, and their free online access for researchers worldwide.
He also proposed establishing a Marathi-Tamil Language and Culture Research Centre at Thanjavur, with scholarships and funding for translating important Tamil works into Marathi and Marathi literature into Tamil.
Another proposal was for the AYUSH Ministry to undertake a research project on medicinal herbs and treatments documented in the medical works collected by Serfoji II and explore their contemporary relevance.
Dr Gore further suggested that the Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu education boards introduce a separate chapter on Raja Serfoji II in history and Marathi/Tamil textbooks for Classes VIII to X, highlighting his contribution to the Marathi intellectual and cultural tradition in South India.
Welcoming the initiative, reception committee chairman Laxmanrao Dhoble said Indian languages had historically complemented one another and should be used to bridge social and regional differences rather than deepen them. Respect for each other's languages, he said, could also promote cooperation between states.
He said cultural and literary exchanges could help create a conducive atmosphere for dialogue on issues such as the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute and water-sharing issues involving Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. UNI SP AAB
Tags: #Language can strengthen social bonding# not divide Society: Dr Sharad Gore
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