Karnataka - Mysore   

Classical language tag: ‘petition will not come in way of claiming absolute right’

— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

language in focus: Director of the Department of Kannada and Culture Manu Baligar inaugurating a workshop in Mysore on Friday.

MYSORE: Director of the Department of Kannada and Culture Manu Baligar on Friday clarified that a writ petition filed in the Madras High Court challenging the Union Government’s notification granting classical language status to Kannada would not come in the way of claiming absolute right and benefit over the status extended.

Inaugurating a one-day workshop organised here by the department in association with Kuvempu Institute of Kannada Studies (KIKS) on “Classical language status to Kannada”, he allayed fears over perceived uncertainty on the issue.

The petition has been filed by R. Gandhi, senior advocate of Chennai and the former chairman of the Tamil Nadu Language Commission. “The petition has no merit to question the notification and it will not be admitted by the court,” Mr. Baligar said.

On promoting Kannada language, he said it was necessary to develop software to meet the present needs and the department was prepared to support any effort in this direction.

“It was the responsibility of those involved in research to seek administrative support from the department.” Delivering the key-note address, Joint Director of the department and writer K.T. Chikkanna stressed the need for taking the language beyond the confines of literature and research.

Proposals had to be prepared and programmes had to be offered to get financial assistance from the Centre, he said.

Director of the KIKS Ambalike Hiriyanna said that though Kuvempu tried to implement Kannada in higher education and professional courses, apathetic bureaucracy came in his way.

Lauding the Government for sanctioning Rs. 1 crore for various universities in the State for promoting Kannada and taking up researches on the language, Mr. Hiriyanna said that the KIKS had prepared an action plan and appointed research scholars to bring out volumes on Kannada.

In his presidential address, visiting professor at KIKS Raghav noted that classical language status was of no use without financial assistance from the Centre. He said that richness of Kannada should be showcased even beyond the boundaries of Karnataka. Regretting the apathy of authorities in implementing Kannada as the official language in letter and spirit, Prof. Raghav said that certain posts should be reserved for those who had studied in Kannada medium.

Linguists Lingadevaru Halemane and Kikkeri Narayan presented papers on the occasion. Later, there was aninteraction programme on “Challenges and possibilities of classical language status.

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