I am a teenager and a first-generation American, born in India to Indian immigrant parents.
Through living in the United States, I have greatly assimilated into Western society, and living here has ingrained me in core Western values such as individual liberties and radical philosophical principles from my earliest memories. 

However, as one of the first in my extended family to visit this country, let alone be the first person in my entire family's history to live here, and having been integrated into its culture, I sometimes feel quite distant from my Marathi culture and lineage back home. 

Lately, I have been using the currently offered Hindi language on Duolingo to get a grasp of the letters, and reading and writing systems. However, Marathi has many more characters that Hindi doesn't include. It just doesn't feel the same overall, too. Additionally, as a proficient speaker and listener of both Marathi and Hindi, I've noticed that the spoken forms of these languages differ in terms of their vocabulary. 

Despite being the third-most spoken language in India, with over 90 million speakers, Marathi still lacks representation on the renowned language-learning platform, Duolingo. For millions like me —Gen Z, fully Westernized Indians — who are yearning to connect with their roots, Duolingo offers an unparalleled platform for language education. Yet, it falls short by not including Marathi: a language that not only reflects the rich cultural tapestry of India, but also holds immense personal significance for millions.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In recent years, Duolingo has significantly expanded its language offerings, as it has included several regional languages from different parts of the world. This inclusive effort has allowed users globally to reconnect with their heritage, understand a diverse range of cultures, and embrace multilingual communication. By adding Marathi, Duolingo could enhance these efforts while recognizing the importance of one of the world's widely spoken languages. 

Making Marathi available on Duolingo would not only benefit individuals like me, but also help preserve this beautiful, rich language for future generations.
It would offer students like me, as well as professionals and linguists, an opportunity to explore a linguistic tradition that has shaped much of India's history and literature for hundreds of thousands of years. 

Let's urge Duolingo to take action and feature Marathi on its platform.

Sign this petition to help us advocate for linguistic diversity and ensure that Marathi speakers, and those eager to learn, have the resources they deserve from this renowned platform. 
Your signature could make a difference in promoting cultural heritage and language inclusivity to millions of people worldwide. Join us in this mission!