Bridging the language gap to preserve tribal dialects, languages in Maha

The decline of tribal dialects in Maharashtra has been a growing concern with a lack of proficient teachers and the extensive use of Marathi contributing to the problem.

- Dheeraj Bengrut

PUNE: However, amidst this linguistic erosion, Rushikesh Khilare, a 37-year-old researcher from Beed, has emerged as a bridge between the past and the future. Over the past decade, he has compiled seven volumes of dictionaries, documenting approximately 1.5 lakh words from 15 tribal dialects. His work aims to preserve these languages and improve education outcomes for tribal students who often struggle in schools due to the language barrier.

Language barrier in tribal education Maharashtra's tribal population is spread across six major districts, with 49 dialects still in use. However, as government schools struggle to find teachers fluent in both tribal dialects and Marathi, a communication gap persists, causing poor learning outcomes and declining use of these dialects among younger generations. While state schemes exist to support tribal education, the fundamental challenge remains—children cannot learn effectively if they do not understand the language of instruction.

Khilare, who holds a master's degree in clinical psychology from Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), first encountered the issue in 2010 when he visited Melghat, a region known for its high child and maternal mortality rates due to malnutrition. While working on health projects with NGOs, he realised that education was the key to addressing many of the tribal community's challenges. However, he observed that despite various government initiatives, language remained a significant barrier.