Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Telugu Language Day

We are in the habit of celebrating some ‘day’ for women’s liberation, Telugu language, anti-smoking, etc. We forget about the event the very next day. There is no sincerity in those formal celebrations. Even eminent personalities ceremonially grace the celebrations.

Telugu Language Day was celebrated on October 29 coinciding with the birth anniversary of Gidugu Venkata Ramamurty Pantulu who advocated, like Gurazada Appa Rao and others, the use of ‘Vaduka Bhasha’ (spoken language) so that majority of the people understand it rather than the language used by earlier poets like Srinadha, Tikkana and Pothana which was more Sanskritised and as such cannot be understood by the lay people.

But, in practice, if one speaks in mother tongue, Telugus in particular, do not give any importance to the person but also look down upon him. It is sad that the present and previous Speakers of AP Legislative Assembly use more of English and Telugu only sparingly. This is the case with most Telugus who prefer to speak in English on the plea that they cannot speak well in Telugu while Bengalis, Hindi people, Tamilians, Oriyas and Assamese speak only in their mother tongue unless forced otherwise. Let there be wholehearted effort to increase the use of Telugu without being parochial and not hindering development.

G.V.S. Lakshmi

Visakhapatnam

The other day I was astonished to see a NASSCOM report which said that most educated Indians are only half-literate, meaning -- they lack employable skills. It also said that 90 per cent of the graduates and 75 per cent of engineers were rejected because they are ‘not worth training’. It is felt there is an urgent need to build skills to match the global culture. The pathetic part is that they lack communication skills and the graduates even do not know how to write a letter without mistakes.

In view of this, the educated youth of our country should equip themselves with such quality that can bridge the gap between bookish knowledge and practical education.

K.C. Mohanti

Visakhapatnam

A new subject, ‘Foundation Course’, was introduced for first year degree students. This paper comprises Indian political, economic and social problems.

The paper has 70 per cent theory and 30 per cent practical field work. We regret to say there is no specific text book till today. I suggest a text book be prescribed for the benefit of students.

S. Chantilakshmi

Attili

The cleanliness week launched by Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation with great fanfare left the city as filthy as it was, if not worse. The main causes for this are the ubiquitous open drains which remain clogged, emanating stench. The most striking failure of GVMC is its inability to enforce synchronisation of waste water disposal to the UGD sewage system which covers more than half of the city.

T.S. Rao

Visakhapatnam

In response to a letter ‘Delay in transfer’ in these columns on November 16, 2009, the Senior Superintendent of Post Offices informs that the savings bank account of Mr. Karri Babu Rao, Visakhapatnam has been transferred to P and T Colony Post Office and the new account number is 685191.

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

Stories in this Section

Telugu Language Day
Two-day AISF district meet to be held at Narsipatnam
Innovative project for marginalised children in AOB villages
Arasam award to be given to film writer today
‘Kuja dosha nivarana puja’ organised by portal
IIAM workshop on Nov. 29
VUDA’s mega housing project launched
Accident victim succumbs
Visakhapatnam Today

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu