Mysuru: Maintaining that people of other States living in Karnataka should learn to speak Kannada, poet Prof. K.S. Nissar Ahmed has asserted that Kannada is not ‘useless’ but a ‘less used’ language.
He was addressing a gathering of writers and Kannada activists at the Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations organised by Kannada Chaluvaligarara Kendra Sangha at the Institution of Engineers-India (IEI) on JLB road here on Sunday.
Blaming those Kannadigas who lack a sense of pride towards their mother tongue for the prevailing situation of Kannada, Prof. Nissar Ahmed regretted the tendency of employing people from other States when our own youths were jobless.
Pointing out that Kannadigas should always raise their voice for the cause of language, he said that he was glad to say that the Nityotsava song penned by him is still popular even after 50 years.
Reminiscing Rashtrakavi Kuvempu whom he described as his mentor, he credited Kuvempu for spreading the light of Kannada among the people through his works.
Prof. Nissar Ahmed further said that the honour bestowed on him to inaugurate this year’s ‘Nada Habba’ Dasara in September, was a rarity.
Senior littérateur Dr. C.P. Krishnakumar (CPK) said the fight for Kannada seems to be never ending with Tamil Nadu raking up the Cauvery water issues.
Stressing on the need for launching a Pro-Kannada Movement at a time when the language is under threat, he noted that Kannada would have faced a more severe threat had not for Pro-Kannada organisations and fighters.
Former MP and JD(S) leader A.H. Vishwanath, in his address, questioned the organisers of the recently concluded 83rd Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelana for not inviting him to various sessions during the annual literary meet held in city.
Pointing out that he himself was a writer having a few works to his credit, he said that he has published seven books, with some of them even having a foreword by prominent writers.
Prof. Nissar Ahmed and Dr. CPK were feted on the occasion.
District BJP President Kote M. Shivanna, writer Dr. Malali Vasanthkumar, MLA Kalale Keshavamurty, District Kannada Sahitya Pareshat President Y.D. Rajanna, Kannada Chaluvaligarara Sangha President B.A. Shivashankar, Hotel Owners’ Association President C. Narayanagowda and Social worker K. Raghuram were present.
Nissar Ahmed should first convert to the religion of the karnataka land, hinduism. Also, tell his foreign religion friends to start speaking in Kannada at home, instead of a foreign language.
Please be more specific which religion should one covert to there is no religion specific to Karnataka, However Karnataka as many Indian states has many religion which includes Brahman,lingyat,okaliga and list goes on.
Prof Nisar is a pride of Karnataka and we should appreciate and accept his faith as it had nothing to do with his love and service to Kannada literature.