THANE: In a community hall nestled inside Thane’s upscale Vasant Vihar, a small group of Telugu-speaking residents gathers once every weekend evening, not for cultural or political meetings, but to learn Marathi and seamlessly blend into the city’s social and linguistic landscape.The idea germinated a few years ago and took shape last year after the FTAM group of like-minded people from the Telugu community secured a space to operate sessions. “We knew of struggles our people faced when they arrived in Mumbai and couldn’t ask for directions. Our goal was to help migrants, professionals coming from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to Mumbai and Thane. The motivation was practical, not political,” said Jaganbabu Ganji, a member. As word spread, two Marathi-proficient volunteers stepped in to teach the basics. Maharashtra-born Radhika Gujja, who has roots in Telangana, has piloted two batches. “We start with consonants and basic vocabulary. It feels good to help someone read a bus board or talk to vendors in Marathi,” she said.“Each class runs for about an hour every weekend, and each course lasts a few weeks-enough for students to get comfortable with Marathi, which many fondly describe as their ‘maushi’ (the maternal aunt of their mother tongue, Telugu),” Ganji said. “We charge a nominal Rs 250 per month per student only to cover teachers’ travel costs.”The response, though not so encouraging as many students drop out midway due to commitments, has led the team to plan conducting sessions online to accommodate more working professionals. Some who dropped out have also requested virtual classes. Participants say the lessons have made settling in easier. Bhanu Prakash Malla, a general manager with a construction firm, said acclimatising was initially tough. “Learning Marathi has made it easier to interact with clients, contractors, and local vendors,” he said.
