thechitpavana.org

A commentary on the dialect’s status in the past and current times and initiatives for re-introducing Chitpavni.

Backcover of the book “Citpavani” by Dr. Mrs. Vasudha Bhide.

Chitpavni is a ‘boli’ – a dialect, rather than a language or ‘bhasha’. However, what we speak is our bhasha- hence, Amchi Bhas. Chitpavni had been the mother tongue of Chitpavans for hundreds of years, till migrations took place and Marathi became the adopted mother tongue. Some associate this with the rise of Peshwes to power in Pune- where much of the Chitpavans migrated for livelihood and occupation. However, we do not find even the Peshwa family conversing in Chitpavni anywhere. So it is safe to say Chitpavni started to lose its hold much before we might assume.

Today, Chitpavni is kept alive by Chitpavni speaking families and individuals in the states of Goa and Karnataka. (see Chitpavni)

Writers and authors like Dr. Mrs. Vasudha Bhide(MA, PhD), Sh. Shridhar K. Barve, Sh. Ashok Nene have written books on Chitpavni Bolibhasha (See Below), commenting on the history and dialect of the dialect.

Books on Chitpavni Dialect by various authors.