Karnataka govt committed to support activities of Arebhashe academy: Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao

Mangaluru: District in-charge Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said that the State government is committed to supporting the activities of the Karnataka Arebhashe Samskriti Mattu Sahitya Academy and promoting the language and its rich cultural traditions.

Speaking after conferring the academy’s annual honorary awards on three achievers in Mangaluru on Saturday, the minister said that although the Arebhashe language is largely confined to certain regions, it is not restricted to any particular caste or community. While the Vokkaliga Gowda community speaks the language in large numbers, people belonging to several other communities also use Arebhashe in their daily lives.

The government had established the language academy with the objective of promoting Arebhashe literature and ensuring the preservation and growth of the language through research, publications, cultural programmes and other activities. Such institutions play a crucial role in safeguarding linguistic heritage and passing it on to future generations.

The Minister noted that Arebhashe is spoken in three districts of Karnataka and forms an important part of the cultural identity of the people in those regions. Language academies, he said, help ensure that regional languages do not fade away by encouraging research, documentation and literary development.

Stressing the importance of preserving linguistic diversity, Rao said India is a country known for its rich cultural and linguistic diversity, where people speaking different languages live together in harmony. “The unity in diversity seen in India is a model for the entire world. Our strength lies in respecting and celebrating our differences,” he said.

He further added that the government has given recognition to all languages and continues to encourage efforts aimed at their preservation and promotion. Mutual respect and affection among people of different languages and communities must be protected, as it forms the foundation of India’s social fabric.

“No one should attempt to divide society on the basis of language or caste. Our Constitution was framed by keeping every Indian in mind, and it reflects the spirit of equality and inclusiveness,” he added.

Emphasising the need to promote linguistic harmony, the Minister said that every language carries within it the culture, traditions and history of its people. “We must love and promote all languages and work collectively to ensure that our linguistic heritage continues to thrive,” he said.

Awardees

The Karnataka Arebhashe Samskriti Mattu Sahitya Academy conferred its honorary awards for 2025 on three individuals who have made notable contributions to the growth and promotion of the language.

The awardees are Anantha Raja Gowda for his contribution to research and literature, Lokeshwari Vinayachandra for her work in organisation and social service, and Katrathana Lalita Ayyanna for her contribution to Arebhashe literature.

Each award carries a cash prize of Rs 50,000 along with a citation.