'State lacks political will for Kannada'

Senior journalist Patil Puttappa on Wednesday here vociferously blamed the successive governments for the current status of Kannada language that is lagging behind in its place of origin.

He was addressing the gathering at a programme organised by Dejagow Fans Association to honour litterateur and former vice-chancellor of University of Mysore Prof De Jawaregowda on the occasion of his recently released ‘Janapada Mahasamputa’, a book on folklore.

Recalling the delegation he had led to the then chief minister S M Krishna, Patil Puttappa said that he had exhorted the latter to include Kannada as a language in B Ed course.

Krishna had promised, but the demand remained even after his exit from CMO and continues to remain so till date. The Gokak movement then had pressed for introducing Kannada as the first language, but to no avail.

In a wake up call to the Kannadigas, Patil Puttappa said besides blaming the governments, it could also be attributed to the people of the land who practice silence instead of raising their voice.

Referring to Dejagow’s book, he said when the villages are fast eroding in the geographical set up, it is rather a tough call for janapada.

Lauding Mysore for retaining its charm from the past several years, Patil Puttappa said it is a unique place in the State. While, Karnataka is the only State in the nation to stand distinctively apart from other states. And, India’s position is unparalleled in the world.

Opposing the growth of Bangalore, Patil Puttappa called for stopping its progress further. Citing the example of London, Patil Puttappa said ‘the administrators there haven't allowed any new locality for the past 40 years.

Instead, they advice the people to pick other towns in the immediate vicinity’, meaning the growth of the city should not exceed its very limit.

Former prime minister and Janata Dal (Secular) Supremo H D Deve Gowda lamented that even the politicians don’t have the feeling of Karnataka as one State, as they have differentiated it as ‘Hyderabad Karnataka’, ‘Mumbai Karnataka’ and ‘Old Mysore region’.

On his retirement from politics, the query he comes across often and often, Deve Gowda firmly said he ‘does not intend to retire’.

De Jawaregowda, litterateurs Dr C P Krishna Kumar and M Akbar Ali were present.

Deve Gowda pats Shashidhar Prasad

Without taking the name of former vice-chancellor of University of Mysore Prof J Shashidhar Prasad who is accused of committing irregularities, Deve Gowda supported him for playing a key role in taking the varsity to numero uno position. “If the varsity received  ` 100 crore grant for development, the credit should go to De Jawaregowda’s family. Instead of identifying his contribution, some people created an issue deeply hurting me too”, said Deve Gowda.