The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Don't ignore mother tongue, says Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 24, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Don't ignore mother tongue, says Minister

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: A meeting organised by the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha here on Sunday to discuss steps to protect Indian languages and culture expressed concern over the influence enjoyed by English at the cost of provincial languages in the country.

Union Minister of State for Mines T. Subbarami Reddy said English was necessary in the computer age, but people could not ignore their mother tongue at the same time. He praised the unique character of Indian culture. Language and culture were inseparable, he added.

Jnanpeeth awardee C. Narayana Reddy said the existence of Indian languages and culture was threatened by the western lifestyle. He recalled a recommendation he had made to Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy for compulsory Telugu-medium education in both Government and private schools up to fifth standard.

Radheshyam Shukla, Editor, Swatantra Vaartha, said the country needed a single language that bound its people. He warned against the danger of English overtaking Indian languages if Hindi was given a burial. Vithal Rao Arya, convenor of the Sabha, spoke.

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