Mysore/Mysuru: Former Vice-Chancellor of Karnataka Sanskrit University Prof. Padma Shekar asserted that “Kannada language may go extinct if the Kannadigas in the State don’t raise their voice like the people of Tamil Nadu against the imposition of Hindi language.”

Speaking after inaugurating 68th Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations organised by Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) at its Convocation Hall on Hunsur road here on Thursday, she said “It has been 68 years since Kannada linguists united after the formation of language-wise regions in the State. It has been 50 years for the State being rechristened as Karnataka but still the cry for saving and fostering Kannada language is far from over. What has turned into a hurdle for Kannada language to flutter high is the Central Government and education and administrative sectors. The Centre is portraying Hindi as a national language, which is actually a language for communication, but being misled as a national language. Even the bureaucrats and politicians have developed a servile mindset, which is a matter of regret.”

The linguistic experts and education experts have recommended that primary education should be in mother-tongue. Mother-tongue stems from the land we live and is for inter-personal  communication. If education is imparted in mother-tongue, the mind of the children will naturally develop. But the parents blind love for English has turned into a weapon for capitalists. The Government has also failed to effectively handle the responsibility of implementing Kannada as an administrative language. Even if the Central Government’s Office is located in Karnataka, Kannada should be the administrative language. But Kannadigas prefer to converse either in English or Hindi, regretted Prof. Padma.

English is a compulsory medium of instruction at China and Japan, but still education is provided in mother-tongue. Even the States like Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra have set examples in the way they create a conducive atmosphere to foster their respective State languages. While in Karnataka, love for Kannada still remains a million dollar question. The creation of language wise region meant to live in harmony with other language speaking States in the neighbourhood.  Kannada should be supreme in Karnataka and Kannada Watchdog Committee and later Kannada Development Authority (KDA) was constituted to achieve the desired purpose, but the language didn’t grow on expected lines.

KSOU VC Prof. Sharanappa V. Halse presided  over the programme. Registrars Prof. K.L.N. Murthy and Dr. K.B. Praveen, Finance Officer V.M. Ramesh, Deans Prof. Lakshmi and Prof. Ramanath were present on the occasion.

‘As PM, Deve Gowda lost chance to promote Kannada’

As a Prime Minister (PM) H.D. Deve Gowda lost the opportunity to explore the possibilities of conducting daily affairs in Kannada, but learnt Hindi in haste. Had he taken a strong resolve to transact the business in Kannada, Kannada as a language may have flourished further, opined Prof. Padma Shekar.