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Replicate Tamils' linguistic fervour: Minister

Special Correspondent

`They worked hard to secure classical language status for Tamil' `They worked hard to secure classical tag for Tamil'

AN APPEAL: Union Minister of State for Planning M.V. Rajasekharan inaugurating a seminar on Kannada in Mysore on Tuesday. (From right) Kannada litterateur D. Javare Gowda, former Union Minister V. Srinivas Prasad, and Chairman of Kuvempu Institute of Kannada Studies Aravind Malagatti are seen. — Photo: M.A. Sriram

MYSORE: Union Minister of State for Planning M.V. Rajasekharan on Tuesday regretted that the political establishment and the people of the State do not take pride in Kannada nor are they aware of the glorious history and heritage of the language.

He was delivering the inaugural address at a seminar on "Vachana Chaluvali — Kannada Sahitya" at the Kuvempu Institute of Kannada Studies (KIKS) here.

Mr. Rajasekharan noted that in contrast, the people of Tamil Nadu and the political establishment in that State, irrespective of ideological affiliations, take pride in their language and make efforts to highlight its history.

But this is not so in Karnataka, he said and stressed the need for the youth to learn the history and evolution of Kannada and apprise themselves of the corpus of literature.

Referring to Tamils' struggle to secure classical language status for Tamil, Mr. Rajasekharan said the Tamil Nadu Government encouraged scholars from France, Germany and the U.S. to study the language and literature and publish books.

"It would not be wrong to say that we are not putting in even 10 per cent of the efforts made by the people of Tamil Nadu for upholding the cause of language," he added.

On the role played by political parties in Tamil Nadu to secure classical language status for Tamil, Mr. Rajasekharan pointed out that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) made it a main plank in its election manifesto, and other political parties were forced to take note of it. The political conditions that emerged after the 2004 general elections helped strengthen the DMK's efforts to secure classical language status for Tamil, and the United Progressive Alliance Government at the Centre conceded the demand.

Expressing happiness at the work being undertaken by the Kuvempu Institute of Kannada Studies to popularise the language, Mr. Rajasekharan said the Union Government should be informed about it.

The Centre is aware of the State's demand for classical language status for Kannada, he said. The status will facilitate an annual grant of Rs. 30 crores from the Centre for programme to popularise the language and help establish research centres in universities.

"There are four parameters for according classical status to a language — antiquity, ancient body of literature, original living traditions and continuity — and Kannada qualifies on all accounts. I am confident that it will be accorded to Kannada," Mr. Rajasekharan said.

He appealed to Kannada litterateur D. Javare Gowda not to go on a fast for securing classical status for Kannada. Prof. "De Ja Gow", as Prof. Javare Gowda is popularly known, said in his presidential remarks that there is no corpus of literature in the world similar to Sharana Sahitya in Kannada, which has ushered in social revolution, religious revolution and helped build a literary revolution.

Responding to Mr. Rajasekharan's appeal, Prof. Javare Gowda said he was only supporting those who were striving for the status for Kannada.

He regretted the "ignorance" of Kannadigas of their history and culture and wondered if the youth are aware of historical personalities.

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