‘More efforts needed to promote Kannada language’
| Date :12-Nov-2019 |
By Vikas Vaidya :
The efforts that have been taken right now to promote Kannada language are not enough. Unlike other States where its language is compulsory, Karnataka has not shown that interest. In Nagpur there is Karnataka Sangh that works for the promotion of Kannada language but according to them their efforts are need to be given momentum. There are 100 plus families who speak Kannada, live in Nagpur. They try their children should speak the mother tongue. Some families have settled down in Nagpur and started speaking Marathi more fluently. But their efforts are on. ‘The Hitavada’ spoke to some of the personalities in Nagpur who speak Kannada on the issue of popularising Kannada.
They gave their opinions on the issue. K M M Prasanna, IPS, Inspector General, Nagpur Range, Maharashtra talked with wide perspective on the issue of mother tongue. “Language should be given its due importance. Mother tongue should be made first language in schools as compulsory language. Minimum command should be on mother tongue. One has to speak English and local language, as I must be able to speak in Marathi since I am working in Maharashtra. Secondly, every state should make its own language compulsory. Karnataka from next year will be making Kannada, a compulsory language,” informed K M M Prasanna. K M M Prasanna explained, “In families if parents speak mother tongue, children follow them. Whatever parents do, children emulate them.
If one wants to popularise Kannada, some extra efforts like script learning should be taken. Only speaking doesn’t take anywhere. Writing and reading is very much important. I read Kannada literature. My children are not able to read and write, though they can speak. Every language is connected to its culture, so we should promote the culture, literature, it automatically attracts people towards that language. In Europe there are very tiny countries, smaller than our one state, but they have preserved their culture and so people there speak local language. We must be proud of our own language.” Sanjay Pai, Deputy General Manager, BEML Limited feels Karnataka Sangh is doing work but it is limited. “To do such works one needs lot of time and people devoted to the cause.
We organise programmes based related to Kannada language. In Balaji Mandir we organise bhajan, musical programmes which have Kannada connection. We need Sangh to take efforts. Here there are more than 100 Kannada speaking-families. People are ready to participate in cultural programmes based on Kannada culture. In Raghvendra Swami Math, more than 75% members are Kannada, in Balaji Mandir, Kamptee also have 80% Kannada people, in Siddharudh Samiti Mandir 100% people are Kannada speaking.” Dr Jaya Prasanna, Cardio Vascular Thoracic Surgeon with Wockhardt Hospital commented, “Activities are being conducted to promote Kannada language. At homes we strictly speak Kannada language. There are Karnataka Associations everywhere, even in foreign countries too. In Australia too we have Karnataka Association. The language is within the close community. Organising cultural programme can be one of the solutions to promote Kannada.
The works done in Kannada language should be highlighted. For example, S L Bhyrappa has written novel Parva in Kannada. It became so popular that it was translated in Marathi where also it got rousing welcome. There are so many great works which are translated in other languages so that people of non-kannada speaking can get enchanted to this language. Offering Kannada as third language at school level then it would make a great difference,” she added. Chandrashekhar Nagral, President of Karnataka Sangh in Nagpur pointed out what efforts the association is taking for the promotion of Kannada. He said, “Till now we have not started conducting classes in Kannada but now we have given a serious thought over this idea. Actually we don’t have enough number of people who would show keen interest, come forward and start teaching. But we will overcome that difficulty. In our Annual General Meeting we have made it a point to speak only in Kannada.”
Shantaram Bellare, Consultant for Export Business, “In our meetings, get-together, we have restricted ourselves to Kannada only. We have no option than to take serious efforts. Since we are staying in Maharashtra we want our children to know Marathi, but at the same time we feel they should learn Kannada also. In our Sangh we have more than 1,000 books in Kannada. We have preserved them and wish we all could be able to read those books or at least people should avail the benefit of it.” Bal Hundgund, a well-known Journalist and businessman expresses regret over not much efforts are being taken for the promotion of Kannada language. But he is very much optimistic and suggested, “Every language has its own culture, literature, tradition, the history of its existence. We must organise programmes which depict the culture of Kannada.
All over the world, the culture always remain the point of attraction for learning language. If we introduce our wards to this culture then they themselves will show willingness to learn the language too and also the non-Kannada speaking too will get attracted.” Anand Bethgiri, a professional Photographer and Secretary of Karnataka Sangh pointed out, “I think the great people who have devoted their lives in their respective fields without dissociating to Kannada should be introduced to our children. Such people should be invited by the associations and let people should understand their work. Secondly, in school libraries the books by Kannada authors should be kept.”