CM Fadnavis: Classical Marathi Centre approved for Pune's Deccan College
Synopsis
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis announces Union Government approval to establish a Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Marathi at Deccan College, Pune, paving the way for dedicated federal funding and academic research into the classical language.
Key Takeaways
The Union Government has approved establishing the Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Marathi at Deccan College, Pune.
The approval follows the earlier central decision to grant Classical Language status to Marathi .
The Maharashtra state government had already prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) in anticipation of the approval.
The DPR will now be submitted to the Centre to unlock federal funding for the project.
Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute, Pune — founded in 1821 — was chosen for its deep tradition in linguistics and philology.
CM Fadnavis made the announcement on the eve of Classical Marathi Language Day , thanking PM Narendra Modi for the decision.
On the eve of Classical Marathi Language Day, a long-pursued demand of Maharashtra finally has a home — the Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Marathi will come up at Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute, Pune. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Friday, October 2, 2026, that the Union Government has formally approved the establishment of the centre, clearing a path for dedicated funding and institutional research into one of India's oldest literary traditions.
From classical status to a dedicated research home
The journey to this moment has two chapters. The first was the Union Government's earlier decision to grant Classical Language status to Marathi — a recognition that the language's documented literary heritage stretches back well over a millennium. Classical status opens the door to central funding, academic chairs, and dedicated research infrastructure.
The second chapter was the follow-through: lobbying for a physical Centre of Excellence where that status could be translated into sustained scholarship. Fadnavis confirmed that the state government had already initiated a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the centre before the approval came through, signalling the administration's confidence that clearance would eventually arrive.
Why Deccan College, Pune
Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute in Pune is among India's oldest and most respected institutions for linguistics, archaeology, and Sanskrit studies — founded in 1821. Its long tradition of lexicographic and philological work, including decades of work on the encyclopaedic Marathi etymological dictionary, makes it a natural anchor for a Classical Marathi research centre. Placing the Centre of Excellence here grounds it in institutional depth rather than starting from scratch.
Funding pipeline now open
With the Union Government's approval secured, the DPR that the state government prepared will now be formally submitted to New Delhi, triggering the release of central funds for construction, staffing, and programming. The approval essentially converts a policy commitment into an actionable project with a budget trail — the part that actually builds libraries, hires scholars, and publishes research.
CM Fadnavis thanks PM Modi
Posting in Marathi and opening with the celebrated verse 'लाभले आम्हास भाग्य, बोलतो मराठी' ('We are fortunate, we speak Marathi'), Fadnavis framed the announcement as a matter of collective pride — 'extremely joyful and proud news for Marathi speakers in Maharashtra, across India, and around the world.' He offered personal thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the decision.
The timing — on the eve of Classical Marathi Language Day — was deliberate, lending the announcement a ceremonial weight that transcends bureaucratic procedure. For a language spoken by roughly 83 million people, a permanent research home is more than a building. It is institutional memory with a budget.
Point of View
The timing on Classical Marathi Language Day is a deft piece of political communication, reinforcing a cultural-nationalist narrative around language pride ahead of any electoral calendar. The broader pattern — classical status followed by a research centre followed by federal funding — mirrors the model used for other classical Indian languages and will likely be invoked as a template for languages still seeking similar recognition.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Marathi?
It is a dedicated academic and research institution approved by the Union Government to promote the study of Classical Marathi language, to be set up at Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute in Pune.
Why was Marathi given Classical Language status?
Marathi was granted Classical Language status by the Union Government in recognition of its documented literary heritage spanning more than a millennium, qualifying it under the criteria set for classical languages in India.
Where will the Classical Marathi Centre of Excellence be located?
The centre will be located at Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute in Pune, one of India's oldest institutions for linguistics and philology, founded in 1821.
What is a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and why does it matter here?
A DPR is a comprehensive technical and financial document submitted to the Union Government to release central funds for a project. The Maharashtra government had already prepared one for the centre, so funding can now be formally sought without further delay.
What did CM Devendra Fadnavis say about the Classical Marathi Centre approval?
CM Fadnavis called it 'extremely joyful and proud news' for Marathi speakers in Maharashtra, across India, and worldwide, and personally thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the decision, making the announcement on the eve of Classical Marathi Language Day.
