लाभले आम्हास भाग्य बोलतो मराठी जाहले खरेच धन्य ऐकतो मराठी धर्म, पंथ, जात एक जाणतो मराठी एवढ्या जगात माय मानतो मराठी -सुरेश भट

Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language of the larger Indo-European language family. It is believed to be 1300 years old evolving from Sanskrit through Prakrit and Apabhramsha. It is spoken by the Marathi or Maharashtrians living in the state of Maharashtra. It is also spoken in some parts neighboring states in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Goa as well Karnataka and in Union territories of Daman and Diu. And outside In India it is spoken in Israel and Mauritius. It is still being used as a medium of communication by Maharashtrians emigrants worldwide in USA, UAE, South Africa, Singapore, Germany, UK, Australia and New Zealand.

The first generation Maharashtrians who emigrate to the US can speak, read and write Marathi fluently. The second generation typically can understand and maybe even speak a little bit but cannot read or write Marathi. Third generation onwards will be able to neither understand or speak it. This is an uphill battle. The kids are exposed to English everywhere amongst friends, in the shops, on TV. Unless (and in some cases inspite of) great effort is made the subsequent generations of kids will lose touch with Marathi and with it a little bit of what makes them who they are.

Dr. Mrs Vijaya Bapat and a few others in the community founded Carolina Vidya Mandir in 1995. The aim was to teach children to speak, read and write Marathi. At the beginning, there were 4-5 students and the classes were held at the home of one of the parents. The response was tremendous. Now the 140 students come to learn Marathi every Sunday and the classes are held in Kestrel Heights School in Durham North Carolina. Hundreds of students have graduated and tens of teachers have volunteered their Sunday morning for this cause.