Sonam Kapoor reacts as Mumbai auto, taxi drivers get notices over Marathi test 

The ongoing row in Maharashtra regarding the use of the Marathi language has now attracted the attention of Bollywood star, Sonam Kapoor. The actress expressed her opinion after reports surfaced suggesting that 722 auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region had received notices for allegedly not having sufficient working knowledge of Marathi. The matter has solicited broader conversations regarding language requirements and its implications on the livelihoods of countless drivers on the streets of the metropolis. 

The action was taken as a part of the Maharashtra government’s initiative to have the public transport drivers possess at least an elementary working knowledge of the Marathi language.  

The drivers have been subjected to various rounds of language proficiency tests and have been given sufficient time to improve their Marathi skills before being notified. However, the process has drawn flak from a section of the drivers who have complained about some of the questions being beyond the content of their earlier training. 

The response from Sonam has garnered attention from the celebrity world for an issue that has been creating ripples in and around Mumbai. A group of taxi and auto drivers has voiced its opposition to this language requirement, claiming it would hurt their livelihood. The chief minister of Maharashtra also firmly established that the drivers need not be experts in Marathi amid the apprehension related to this new requirement.  

The matter has come up at a time when the general requirement of knowing Marathi has been facing scrutiny. Though its supporters have been terming it a way to promote local Marathi and facilitate communication, the naysayers have had doubts regarding fairness in conducting the tests. Another issue related to this requirement is being heard in court. 

With the input of Sonam Kapoor, the entire matter has gone way beyond its original administrative requirement pertaining to the knowledge of a language.