Marathi Language to Be Taught at Oxford University for the First Time

Pune, 23rd October 2024: For the first time, a Marathi language course will be offered at Oxford University. The Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the university has taken the initiative to introduce this course, providing international students the opportunity to learn Marathi.

Prof. Ashwini Mokashi, who teaches Hindi at the university, mentioned that she began teaching Hindi there last year and had also expressed her interest in teaching Marathi. “Last academic year, I had the opportunity to guide a university reading group on a 17th-century book called Sant Bahinabai’s Gatha. That’s when the idea of starting a Marathi course at the university came to mind. Fortunately, this year, some students showed an interest in learning an Indian language other than Hindi and were keen to learn Marathi. As a result, the university management decided to introduce the Marathi course. This marks the first time Marathi has ever been taught at Oxford University. The Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies has about 130 students from all over the world,” she added.

In the Marathi language course, students will learn basic academic Marathi. The curriculum will cover grammar, vocabulary, reading, listening, and speaking skills. By the end of the year, students will be able to speak and write simple Marathi and read prose and verse. Prof. Mokashi also noted, “As far as I know, there is no other Marathi language course in England. However, many years ago, a Marathi course was offered at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London.”