‘Classical’ status will mean little if teaching and learning of Malayalam in schools and its use as the official and court language do not became a reality, poet Sugathakumari has said.
Inaugurating an Assembly march organised by the CPI(M)-led Purogamana Kala Sahithya Sangham here on Thursday, Ms. Sugathakumari said those in power were under the influence of schools that preferred the dominance of foreign languages.
Why is the government hesitant to enact legislation to make Malayalam mandatory in schools, she asked.
A shame
The poet said it was a shame that Tamil and even Spanish were being taught in schools and Malayalam had no place there.
Those who do not love their mother tongue will not be able to save their motherland, she said.
Writer Pirappancode Murali chaired the meeting which was addressed by, among others, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and MLA M.A. Baby; Purushan Kadalundi, MLA; and writers Neelamperoor Madhusoodanan Nair; Ezhacherry Ramachandran; Prabha Varma; and A.K. Nambiar.
The police blocked the march shortly before it reached the Assembly complex.
