“The children of many NRIs don’t understand the language. Their parents want to connect them not just with the language but also with Maharashtrian culture and traditions. This course is aimed at fulfilling this requirement,” said Girish Thakar, BMM president.

BMM is already running a Marathi course in 46 US cities, but the curriculum is not standardised and is left to the teachers at the respective schools. Some use Balbharati textbooks while others have created their own content.

The standard curriculum has been prepared by Sunanda Tumne in Toronto, Vijaya Bapat in Carolina and Susmita Joshi in Philadelphia. “They are not into professional teaching but have designed the curriculum based on the needs of students,” said Leena Deodhare, BMM executive committee member, who is coordinating the course in the 46 cities. The course involves folk songs, information on festivals, and games. It will be conducted at elementary, intermediate and advanced levels.

“Each student will have the flexibility to complete each level according to his or her understanding, though each level will be broadly for one year. Classes will be conducted once a week for two hours,” Deodhare said. “The project will be monitored for three terms and will be changed, if necessary, after looking at the response of students.”