The State Cabinet’s decision to further impose Kannada as a medium of instruction for primary education (Class 1 to Class 5) by amending the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 seems to be linked to the commencement of the 81st Akhila Bharata Kannada Sahitya Sammelan at Shravanabelagola, according to experts.
The sammelan’s main focus is making Kannada the medium of instruction from Class 1 to Class 5, and it is significant to note that the Kannada Sahitya Parishat’s first choice for president of the literary meet, Dalit writer Devanur Mahadeva, declined the honour over the “lack of political will” on the issue of implementing Kannada as the medium of instruction.
Another prominent writer and one of the founders of Dalit Sangharsh Samiti Siddalingaiah accepted the offer with the intention of turning the entire focus of the sammelan on this issue.
According to sources, Dr. Mahadeva’s rejection of the post is said to have spurred Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to act. As leader of the AHINDA (Alpasankhyataru, Hindulidavaru Mattu Dalitaru) group, Mr. Siddaramaiah had resolved to break the language imbroglio to exhibit his political will.
This is seen as a reason for the State hardening its stand on the language issue despite the policy having been struck down by the Supreme Court.
In 1983, one of Mr. Siddaramaiah’s first political assignments as an MLA was as chairman of Kannada Surveillance Committee (Kannada Kavalu Samiti), which was set up to supervise implementation of Kannada as the official language.
The government’s decision is illogical and not practically possible. It will not stand in a court of law.
D. Shashi Kumar,general secretary, Associated Managements of English Medium Schools in Karnataka
