To retain autonomy of Kannada Classical Studies Centre

Mysore/Mysuru:  The Kannada Kriya Samiti has called upon all littérateurs, cinema artistes, Kannada activists and all Kannada organisations to get united to fight for retaining the autonomy of Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Kannada (CESCK) located at Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) in Mysuru.

Addressing a press meet here on Monday, Samiti General Secretary S.R. Sudarshan said that the Samiti has been demanding autonomy for CESCK for over a decade. 

Pointing out that Classical Tamil Studies Centre, which was first set up in Mysuru, was later shifted to Tamil Nadu and granted autonomy by the Union Government, he alleged that the Central Government was displaying a step-motherly attitude for Kannada, by not granting autonomy for Classical Kannada Studies Centre.

Maintaining that the Commission formed by the Government for setting up the proposed Indian Languages University headed by former Election Commissioner Gopalaswamy had visited Mysuru recently, during which Gopalaswamy had ruled out merger of CESCK with the proposed University, Sudarshan contended that the autonomy of CESCK has come to the fore again with the introduction of the New Education Policy (NEP).

CESCK Autonomy Action Committee Convenor N. Diwakar said, written representations have been made to all elected representatives seeking to retain the autonomy of CESCK, but to no avail.

Alleging that there are also plans to set up the proposed Indian Languages University at Shivamogga, he called for launching a Movement against any shifting of CESCK and taking away its autonomy.

Kannada Kriya Samiti President M.G. Sadanandaiah said that a massive Movement will be launched to maintain CESCK’s autonomy.

He also opposed the Mysuru City Corporation’s (MCC) action of distributing COVID-19 awareness pamphlets in Urdu which could invite similar demands by Tamil, Telugu and Marathi-speaking people.

Samiti Treasurer K.S. Narasimhamurthy and others were present during the press meet.