Explanation: The concept of a mother tongue is central to understanding the linguistic and cultural identity of a region. In the context of Gujarat, the mother tongue is Gujarati, which is the primary language spoken by the majority of the population in the state. Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language and is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India. It is written in the Gujarati script, which is derived from the Devanagari script.
Gujarati is spoken by approximately 46 million people in India, with the majority residing in the state of Gujarat. The language has a rich literary tradition and is used in various forms of media, including literature, film, and television. It is also the medium of instruction in many schools and universities in Gujarat.
It is important to distinguish between the mother tongue and the official language of a state. While Gujarati is the mother tongue of Gujarat, Hindi is also widely spoken and is one of the official languages of the state. However, Gujarati remains the primary language of communication and cultural expression for the majority of the population.
The other options provided in the question are incorrect for the following reasons:
- "Gujju" is not a language but a colloquial term used to refer to people from Gujarat.
- Hindi, while widely spoken in Gujarat, is not the mother tongue of the state.
- Marathi is the official language of the neighboring state of Maharashtra and is not related to the linguistic identity of Gujarat.
Understanding the linguistic landscape of Gujarat is crucial for anyone studying the region's culture, history, and social dynamics. The prominence of Gujarati as the mother tongue reflects the state's unique cultural heritage and the importance of preserving and promoting the language in educational and social contexts.