Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are 90 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the 4th largest number of native speakers in India and is the 15th most spoken language in the world. Marathi has the oldest of the regional literatures in Indo-Aryan languages, dating from about 1000 CE. The major dialects of Marathi are called the Standard Marathi and the Warhadi Marathi. There are a few other sub-dialects like Ahirani, Dangi, Samavedi, Khandeshi and Chitpavani Marathi.
Marathi is primarily spoken in Maharashtra and parts of neighbouring states of Gujarat,Madhya Prahdesh,Goa,Karnataka,Chattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, union-territories of Daman-diu and Dadra Nagar Haveli. The cities of Baroda, Surat, Ahmedabad and Belgaum (Karnataka), Indore, Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh), Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh) and Tanjore (Tamil Nadu) each have sizable Marathi-speaking communities. Marathi is also spoken by Maharashtrian emigrants worldwide.
Marathi is an official language of the Indian state of Maharashtra and co-official language in the union territories of Daman and Diu and dadar Nagar Haveli.
In addition to all universities in Maharashtra, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (Gujarat), Osmania University (Andhra Pradesh), Gulbarga university (Karnataka), Devi Ahilya University of Indore and Goa University all have special departments for higher studies in Marathi linguistics. Jawaharlal Nehru University (New Delhi) has announced plans to establish a special department for Marathi.
