The issue of whether or not Karnataka should have a ‘State flag’ may be the all-consuming debate at the moment, but one of the core issues concerning language — of studying Kannada’s antiquity and classical legacy — has remained firmly on the backburner.
The Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Kannada (CESCK), set up six years ago for research, documentation and study of Kannada as a classical language at the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL) in Mysuru, has made little progress because of bureaucratic hurdles.
CAT directive
Right now, the CESCK is without a full-fledged director after the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), on March 23, quashed the appointment of P.K. Khandoba as project director. Describing the selection process conducted by the CIIL as “less than transparent”, CAT directed the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to invite fresh applications for the post.
This is the second time since its formation that the CESCK is without a head, the first being in 2014.
L. Ramamurthy, in-charge director of the CESCK, said the MHRD was expected to complete the process of appointing a new director by September. “Till then, ongoing works will continue,” he said. However, sources in the CESCK said that projects taken under classical language programmes have hit a road block. A workshop organised by the CESCK recently in association with Mangalore University had to be cancelled for “technical reasons”.
Location issue resolved
Even though the row over the location of the CESCK has been resolved and the centre will be based in Mysuru — the University of Mysore has agreed to provide land for it — the MHRD is yet to issue an order granting autonomous status for it.
L. Hanumanthaiah, former chairperson of the Kannada Development Authority, regretted that the MHRD was “dragging its feet” even though six months had elapsed since the venue was finalised.
Urging Minister for Kannada and Culture Umashree to impress upon the MHRD to grant autonomous status to the CESCK and appoint a new project director, KDA chairman S.G. Siddaramaiah said, “Autonomous status will help in availing funds, and hasten research projects.”
