To forget mother tongue is to lose self-esteem: Chandru

Kannada Development Authority (KDA) Chairperson Mukhyamantri Chandru on Sunday said that the Unesco’s’s ‘English propaganda’ is resulting in one language perishing every 15 days in the world and that there is a need to protect our languages and dialects.

“No one should lose self-esteem because they are not studying in an English-medium school. Every language has its own culture and there are plenty of examples like M V Visvesvaraya, who are renowned globally, despite not having studied in English,” he said.

Mukhyamantri Chandru was speaking at a prize distribution function organised to encourage students from Kannada medium schools.

Stating that there are about 180 languages and dialects, including Kannada in Karnataka, he said that there must be a concerted effort to preserve and develop the same.

He also urged ministers Umesh Katti and Anand Asnotikar not to split the ‘State’ and called upon the government to amicably solve the problem and see to it that November 1 (Kannada Rajyotsava) is celebrated in unison with pride.

“The problem about hoisting the Karnataka flag in some parts of the State should also be solved immediately,” he said.

Chandru also said that there must be a dedicated time to sing the State anthem and that there must be provisions of appropriate music for the same. Kannada and Culture minister Govind Karjol said that a decision on a dedicated time to sing the State anthem is forthcoming.

The Kannada and Culture department felicitated S Prajwal of Alvas High School, Mudabidri for having secured 98.8 per cent in SSLC and standing first in the State and H S Shaheen of Aldoor Government College for having secured 95.33 per cent in II PU. Both the students received a purse of Rs 15,000 and mementoes.

Former Indian cricketer Anil Kumble, while stating that students are increasingly spending time on cellphones, said that they should use the same as a tool to preserve Kannada.
“They can send texts and messages in Kannada,” he said. “In order to encourage those interested in cricket we are setting up academies at Hubli, Hassan, Chikmagalur, Mysore and Mangalore,” he added.