A new confrontation over language has emerged online after a video from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai went viral. This has reopened the discussion about language expectations and imposition in Indian cities.
The clip features a man confronting an airport staff member. He repeatedly questions the staff member’s ability to speak Marathi. In the video, the man insists, “Speak in Marathi. Don’t you know Marathi?” The staff member looks confused by the sudden challenge.
Language debate sparks at Mumbai airport
The airport employee remains calm and asks what the issue is. He offers to help and suggests they continue the conversation in Hindi. He says, “Do you have a flight to catch? Let’s talk in Hindi. Do you need any help?” However, this response does not satisfy the man. He claims he does not know Hindi and questions how someone can work in Mumbai without knowing Marathi.
As the discussion heats up, the staff member briefly switches to Marathi, saying, “Mala Marathi yet nahi,” which means he does not know Marathi. This angers the man further, and he warns the employee of “consequences” for admitting he cannot speak the language.
How social media users react?
The video quickly spread across social media, generating sharp and divided responses. Many users criticized the confrontation as unnecessary harassment of a worker. One user noted that Indians are becoming more divided by language, suggesting people fight among themselves instead of focusing on more important national issues.
Others compared this situation to language expectations in other regions. One user questioned whether a Marathi-speaking employee would be allowed to speak only Marathi at an airport in Delhi. Another argued that these confrontations continue because authorities do not act against those who provoke staff over language.
Several users, including some who identified as Marathi speakers, expressed discomfort with the incident. One comment suggested that the employee was trying to communicate and might even be learning the language. This user added that forcing someone to use a specific language “is not in good spirit.”
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