We are a diverse group of students, united not only by our shared pursuit of knowledge but our shared struggle with Marathi as a marked subject in the 10th grade. As pupils whose mother tongue is not Marathi, we find ourselves at a disadvantage. The language barrier is standing in the way of our education and academic performance, which has made this an intensely personal issue.

It's important to recognize that in India, we are proud of our diverse linguistic heritage. With an estimated 30% of the population speaking Marathi, we acknowledge this language's significance and cultural value (source: Census 2011, India). However, marking this subject rather than grading it puts undue stress on non-native speakers, thus creating an unequal academic environment.

I myself have been experiencing a lot of trouble to comprehend with the subject as it is a language and it would take an incredulous amount of time to work and score in Marathi. In order to devote time to marathi you would have to sacrifice the time given for other subjects, which gradually reduces the overall percentage.

Therefore, we're urging the education authorities to reconsider their decision. By shifting Marathi to a graded subject instead of a marked one, we can still honor the importance of the language while ensuring equal academic opportunities for all students, regardless of their mother tongue.

Please support our cause. Sign this petition and let us ensure the integrity of our education system.