What an easy way it is to get enlightened if knowledge is delivered literally at your doorstep and that too free of cost! Well, this is exactly what happened in L B Shastri Nagar, thanks to the combined efforts of the Kannada Sahitya Parishath, the Department of Kannada and Culture and the Ittina Abby Owners Association.
From Monday to Wednesday every week, over 40 students of various linguistic backgrounds gather at a large hall in Ittina Abby apartments to pick up the local language. Each class runs to 90 minutes and a majority of the students are women. Playing a vital role in creating interest among the students is the systematic teaching adopted by teacher Padma Narayan Kumar, specially trained by the Kannada and Culture Department to teach the language to non-Kannadigas in three months.
Metrolife interacted with a few students who have completed three weeks of the course. Anamika Gupta from West Bengal has been in the City for over four years but is experiencing the joy of learning now. “In three weeks’ time I have got to know a new language, I am able to read and write a bit now. I always had the interest but not the opportunity.”  
“I am trying my best to do my homework regularly,” says retiree Sridharan from Madhya Pradesh. He is also quite pleased that he is able to read a bit of Kannada now. Trupti from Maharashtra teaches who in a pre-school says, “I was not able to speak Kannada but this place is providing me the right environment to do it. I also got to know women from nearby apartments who have joined our class.”   
Kasi Viswanathan from Tamil Nadu has been in the City for over two years following his retirement. He says, “The class is very useful to me. I bought a book to learn Kannada two years ago but it did not help. Now, within 15 days, I have learnt to write a bit of the basic language.” He is also very happy about the simple books and notes provided to them.
The teacher, a native of Mysore, commutes from Banaswadi and is doing this out of her love for Kannada. It has to be so as the compensation paid is just enough to bear commutation expenses. This M A (Kannada) student has taught students earlier but coaching adults is a first for Padma Narayan. “The students are enjoying the classes. They are very co-operative and do their homework on time,” she says.  So what prompted her to take this assignment? Pat comes the reply, “I am so proud of my Kannada language. This is a form of social work, something I have always wanted to do.”
The classes are conducted very professionally. Class attendance is taken, mothers are barred from bring their kids to class as they hamper the learning process for others and a mike is put in place to make the teacher’s pronunciation clearly audible in the class.
Much credit for taking the initiative to enable this group learn Kannada goes to Ittina Abbey Owners Association.
Indiranagar classes
Kudos are also due to Kannada Sahitya Parishath president Nagabhooshana who motivated the association to apply to the Government for a teacher. This man, with a passion for the language, has helped 120 students of three batches pick up the language free of cost in Indiranagar and a fourth batch is learning now. These classes though are not done within residences but at a free classroom provided by Vijaya Bharati Junior College.
To arrange classes
Kannada and Culture Department Assistant Director Basavarajappa said, “We have over 20 teachers trained and we pay them Rs 2,500 per month inclusive of conveyance. The classes are of three-month duration and are held on alternate days.
Those interested in learning the language can send in an application and we will arrange a teacher.” Applications must be addressed to Director, Kannada and Culture Department, Kannada Bhavan, JC Road, Bangalore - 02 . Contact: 22213530.