With resounding cries of “Har Har Mahadev” a relatively small number of very brave men and women gave a piece of land in the western region of India, bordering the vast Arabian Sea an independent identity. That identity developed over some 400 years, and after much further strife, into the present day Maharashtra. That is at least what the history books (including countless number of poems, songs, plays and, of course, films) tell us.
What is so special about this particular slice of the great Indian cake? Is it the strategic location, with the sub-continent’s largest commercial city? Or is the natural beauty, with the great plains and plateaus of the east rising up to magnificent heights towards the west and then, quite abruptly, giving way to a vast sapphire ocean? Or is that nebulous word “culture” – the all-encompassing, tradition and novelty embracing, concept that is somehow said to link those who live within and provide a subtle (and at times not so subtle) distinction from those without?
For someone who has lived the better part of her life on the outside, I clearly don’t have the answers. However, what I and a handful of other very enthusiastic people, with varying levels of this knowledge, have undertaken is to bring a flavour of “Maharashtrian-ness” to the rolling hills of South Wales.
At the European Marathi Sammelan 2012 Wales the driving intention is to celebrate Maharashtra, with Maharashtrians living all over the world. We are not the first in Europe to do so, and we will certainly not be the last. Our novelty is perhaps that, for the first time in the history of this 15 year old tradition, we will ask a question, and hold a live debate, get the attendees’ views and present those of some very eminent Maharashtrian thinkers and doers, namely that “Why is Maharashtra relevant to today’s NRI youth”?
I believe, however, that this question is applicable not only for the purposes of the debate. It seems to me to be relevant at a fundamental level. For those of us who have spent decades in other countries amongst other “cultures”, why is “Maharashtra” and “Maharashtrian-ness” continually relevant? Why should we celebrate it with such enthusiasm every two years? Why should Maharashtrians from all over Europe and elsewhere take a few days out of their precious schedules and meet other like-minded, and perhaps not so like-minded, people and enjoy some time of reminiscing about the old, and experiencing some new, joys of this piece of land?
As I said, I don’t have the answers although I will be attending on the 4-6th of April to perhaps get some clarity. We, the committee of EMS2012Wales, hope sincerely that all of you who read this blog will also be there – there will be undoubtedly a great deal to be enjoyed and even more to be simply imbibed. See the website (ems2012wales.org.uk for more details).
However, before that, in the hopes that we get to know some of you beforehand, perhaps you could try answering my questions?
