'Number of Kannada speakers on decline in state'

District In-charge S R Mahesh said the number of people speaking Kannada in Karnataka is decreasing.

“In this 21st century, Kannada language has to retain its identity and also withstand the dominance of English language,” he said while speaking at the 63rd Kannada Rajyotsava programme organised at General K S Thimmaiah Stadium on Thursday.

The minister said knowledge and technology-related issues should be made available to Kannadigas in Kannada language. Kannadigas have to be united to be strong. There is a truth in the popular saying that there is strength in unity. “When the district was ravaged by floods, relief poured into Kodagu district from all directions,” he said.

He said every individual must be self-aware of respecting other culture. But living in our culture.

The cultural programmes presented by students from St Micheal School, Rajarajeshwari School, Blossom School and Bharatiya Vidyarthi Bhavan left the audience spellbound.

Joven Joseph and M C Kratesh, who participated in the march past, Varishma from Galibeedu Kannada Medium School who secured highest marks in Kannada language in SSLC examination, Greeshma, a second PUC who obtained the highest marks and gram panchayats which bagged Gandhi Grama awards were felicitated on the occasison.

MLAs M P Appachu Ranjan, K G Bopaiah, MLCs Sunil Subramani, Veena Achhaiah, Kodagu Zilla Panchayat President B A Harish, Vice President Lokeshwari Gopal, Municipal President Kaveramma Somanna, Zilla Kannada Sahitya Parishat President B S Lokesh Sagar, Deputy Commissioner P I Sreevidya, Superintendent of Police Suman D Pannekar, Chief Forest Conservator Lingaraja, Additional Deputy Commissioner Praveen Kumar and among others were also present.