The State government, which has been flagging one Kannada-related issue after another over the last few months, appears to be going slow when it comes to implementing them.
While the committee formed to look into the legalities of having a State flag (Naada Dhwaja) is yet to meet, there has been inordinate delay in standardising the State anthem (Naada Geethe) and naming a State poet (Rashtrakavi).
Though an expert committee headed by noted poet Chennaveera Kanavi constituted to standardise the Naada Geethe submitted its report three years ago, recommending trimming the four-minute anthem to 90 seconds and a standard tune, the government is yet to act on the report.
Expressing regret over the apathy of the government in implementing the recommendations of expert committee, Y.K. Muddukrishna, a member of the expert committee, said: “I met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Minister for Kannada and Culture Umashree several times appealing to them to standardise the Naada Geethe, but it does not appear to be their priority.”
Kannada Karyakartara Balaga (KKB), a Kannada forum, has also been urging the government to implement the rendition of standardised Naada Geethe. “Had the government made up its mind, a standardised Naada Geethe would have been a gift on the 62nd Rajyotsava to Kannadigas,” said Ra. Nam. Chandrashekar, convener of KKB.
Similar is the attitude of the government in filling the post of the Rashtrakavi, which is vacant after the death of G.S. Shivarudrappa in 2013. The search committee headed by noted legal expert and writer Ko. Channabasappa suggested abolition of the title, arguing that such a title has no place in a democratic State and is against the spirit of the Constitution. The Department of Kannada and Culture washed its hand off the whole issue by authorising Mr. Siddaramaiah to take final call on it, which has not happened so far.
A senior official told The Hindu: “The ball is in Mr. Siddaramaiah’s court and he has to take a call on whether to have Rashtrakavi or not.”
