Overview

• Candacé Karne of North Carolina posted an Instagram video practicing Marathi greetings and everyday phrases to surprise her husband, Aniket Karne from Maharashtra.
• The couple captioned the clip “I’m not perfect but I’m trying. Go easy on me,” and it has surpassed 1.7 million views on Instagram.
• Viewers flooded the comments with praise and pronunciation tips, turning the thread into an impromptu Marathi tutorial community.
• The video’s popularity contrasts with protests over Maharashtra’s plan to require Hindi alongside Marathi and English in primary school curricula.
• Supporters see Karne’s efforts as a heartfelt example of cultural bridging at a time when regional identity and language policy remain contested.