Amid ongoing outrage over the Dombivli incident, where two women—including one with a baby—were allegedly assaulted for not speaking Marathi, another disturbing case tied to language politics has surfaced. Ruchika Asatkar, a well-known influencer from Nagpur with over 280,000 followers on Instagram, has been subjected to rape, acid attack, and murder threats after posting a reel in Hindi following her move to Mumbai.
The video, shared a few weeks after she shifted to the city, reflected on her early struggles and featured a heartwarming conversation with an auto-rickshaw driver. “Mumbai will make you cry in the beginning,” he told her, “but eventually, it gives you everything and you never feel like crying again.” The emotionally resonant reel was appreciated by many but triggered criticism from some users who objected to her use of Hindi, questioning why a Maharashtrian wouldn’t speak in Marathi.
Ruchika responded to one such comment, explaining that she preferred Hindi to connect with a broader audience, especially since much of her content revolves around travel and food. However, her reply was taken out of context and circulated online, sparking a flood of hate messages and serious threats, including those of rape, acid attacks, and murder.
“Being a Nagpurian and a Maharashtrian, I often speak Hindi with friends and family,” Ruchika said. “This isn’t uncommon—many people from Nagpur do the same. I chose Hindi in my videos not because I disregard Marathi, but because my content aims to connect with audiences across regions, and I’m more comfortable expressing myself that way.”
Deeply disturbed by the threats and trolling, Ruchika left with so many questions. Her case has once again brought the spotlight on the ongoing language debate, especially in culturally diverse cities like Nagpur, where Hindi and Marathi are often used interchangeably in everyday conversations.
Her experience reflects the broader issue of how language, a tool meant to unite and express, is being misused to divide and intimidate. It’s ironic—and deeply troubling—that such hate is being spread over something as basic as the choice of language. This article, written by a Marathi-speaking writer, uses English—not to sideline any language—but to communicate a message that transcends linguistic lines: languages are meant to express love, not fuel hate.
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