November 10, 2025: Residents, parents, and activists gathered in Mahim on Sunday to protest the proposed demolition of the New Mahim Municipal Marathi School, owned by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Demonstrators alleged that the civic body is attempting to systematically close Marathi-medium schools in Mumbai under the pretext of redevelopment, likening the situation to the closure of textile mills decades ago.
The protest, held outside the school premises, was attended by residents, Marathi language supporters, social activists, and several well-known cultural and educational personalities. Marathi Abhyas Kendra, along with local organisations, led the protest and demanded that BMC make the third-party structural audit report public before proceeding with any demolition.
Deepak Pawar from Marathi Abhyas Kendra compared the move to Mumbai’s industrial past. “The mills were once shut down under the excuse of being unviable, only for their lands to be taken over later. The same pattern is now repeating with Marathi schools. These schools are being deliberately labelled unsafe through structural audits so that their lands can eventually be used for private projects,” he said.
Pawar emphasised that Marathi schools represent more than just educational institutions. “Shutting them down is like erasing the Marathi soul of Mumbai,” he said, warning that Marathi education could face collapse if such actions continue.
Prominent figures, including actor Chinmayi Sumeet, educationist Girish Samant, playwright Shafaat Khan, and activist Prasanna Rau,t joined the protest, calling the move an assault on Marathi education and urging the state government to intervene immediately.
Protesters demanded an immediate halt to the demolition, public release of all structural audit reports for Marathi schools, and a time-bound plan to rebuild these institutions without converting them into commercial properties. “If the government does not act now, we will soon see the Marathi identity of this city disappear,” Pawar warned.
Source: Hindustan Times
