Mysore/Mysuru: Former Kuvempu University English Department faculty Prof. Rajendra Chenni highlighted the challenges Kannada faces in the era of globalisation and rapidly advancing technology.

He was delivering a talk on ‘Formation of Karnataka State,’ organised by Mysore Open Forum, at Kalpa Kshetra Auditorium in Vijayanagar here this morning.

Prof. Chenni detailed how Kannada was introduced to computers over four decades ago but now confronts new threats from Artificial Intelligence (AI), which could undermine its relevance. He noted that only 25 percent of the population in Bengaluru speaks Kannada, raising concerns about how the language can thrive in an AI-driven landscape.

Replying to a question about how Kannada could be more widely integrated into scientific discourse, Prof. Chenni noted that it is currently challenging to effectively blend Kannada (Sammilitha) with science due to the rapid evolution of new words and definitions.

He also explored the historical formation of Karnataka, stating that the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom was fragmented for centuries. However, the unification of Mysore State in 1956, which was later renamed Karnataka in 1973, played a crucial role in bringing together the scattered Kannada-speaking population.

Prof. Chenni also chronicled the status of Kannada during the British era, tracing its development and the challenges faced throughout the periods of Madras Presidency, Mumbai Karnataka and                                                     Hyderabad Karnataka.

He emphasised that the historical text ‘Kaviraja Marga’ illustrates the growth of the Kannada language and the transformations it has undergone since British rule.