Karnataka - Belgaum   

Will this costly exercise result in permanent good?

Alladi Jayasri

Supriya (left), Prashant, Maruti Patil and Ajit Pawshe — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

BELGAUM: Belgaum city is going through an instant makeover much as Bangalore did when it was preparing to host the SAARC Summit in 1986. Short deadlines notwithstanding, Belgaum went into high-speed mode putting on party gear and putting its best foot forward.

"We have never seen the buildings and streets all lit up and sparkling, or such a festive atmosphere," says Pramod Shet, a stationery businessman in the main market area off College Road. This Konkani-speaking man would rather see some "permanent good come out of this rather costly exercise." He is a little puzzled that the news from the sessions has nothing to do with Belgaum and its problems, let alone that of the northern region of Karnataka. "If the session becomes an annual feature, perhaps, Belgaum's problems and development issues will get more attention," hopes Shet. B.Com students Supriya and Jyothi, who are both Sindhis raised in Belgaum, echo this sentiment: they are categorical that Belgaum should remain with Karnataka.

"The education facilities are good here, and so are the career prospects. I know, because I have many cousins and friends studying in small cities in Maharashtra, I think building a Vidhana Soudha here will bring development," said Jyothi who speaks Kannada and Marathi well. But for Prashant, a graphic artist who has been working for the past three years, having grown up here, a nodding acquaintance with Kannada and being at ease in Marathi is a disadvantage. "My skills are hardly affected by language, I belong to Belgaum, yet I have to be apologetic about not knowing Kannada," he said.

This is something that Ajit Pawshe, a hardware businessman, agrees with. "I wish English was acceptable too in administration, otherwise how can there be a meeting of hearts?" he asks.

Maruti Patil feels language is being used by politicians to drive a wedge in the community. By forcing Kannada on Marathis, will you bring them any closer? he asks. Abdul Rasheed, who has a footwear shop in the market, is patronised equally by Marathis and Kannadigas. As one who watches from the outside, he feels there are few who will choose Maharashtra on grounds of language. Development knows no language and that is what people want: more jobs, better income, and better quality of life.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Land grab: guilty to face the music
Will this costly exercise result in permanent good?
`Congress making wild charges'

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu