Karnataka   

Classical tag for Kannada soon, says Union Minister

Bangalore: All MPs representing the State are making concerted efforts to get classical language status for Kannada, and it will be done without further delay, Union Minister of State for Planning M.V. Rajasekharan has said.

He was speaking at the presentation of the Nrupatunga Award to the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mysore and writer, D. Javare Gowda, here on Saturday. The cash prize of Rs. 5,00,001 that comes with the award instituted by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation is said to be the highest for a literary award in the country.

“We MPs from the State had fixed an appointment with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday evening to appraise him about all issues related to Kannada. But we could not meet Dr. Singh. However, we are meeting him on Tuesday evening and will discuss a wide range of issues pertaining to the State. We are confident that the Centre will accord classical status to Kannada without further delay,” Mr. Rajasekharan said.

Receiving the award, Prof. Javare Gowda said that any politician who did not know the history and culture of the State or the mind of its people could not ensure the development of Karnataka on the required lines, irrespective of his or her administrative abilities or oratorical skills. Only a person like the late Kengal Hanumanthaiya, former Chief Minister, could do so, he said. “Many politicians are not bothered about Kannada and Karnataka. Kannada has been suffering at the hands of politicians and bureaucrats. The status of Kannada in the administration would have far better if the State had a handful of committed bureaucrats,” he said.

BMTC Managing Director Upendra Tripathi said that the corporation planned to institute a Suvarna Karnataka national award as suggested by the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.

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