Jana Sahiti, a city-based literary organization, condemned the alleged discrimination of Telugu language and culture in Tamil Nadu. “The condition that Telugu students writing SSLC examinations should qualify in Tamil as the first language to be eligible for higher classes is one example of how the TN government treated Telugu people. They were suffering humiliation in many other areas,” Jana Sahiti General Secretary Divi Kumar said in a press release.
There are a large number of Telugu people living in Chennai city, Krishnagiri, Arcot and Chengalpattu areas for generations, but their existence has been threatened by the suppression of their culture and traditions. Telugu people accounted for 41 per cent of the TN population as per the 1951 Census and they still constitute a significant chunk of it, he added.
Uncertain future stared
But, an uncertain future stared at them, as the TN government took various decisions that adversely affected them. The predominance of Tamil proved to be a bane for them.
Mr. Kumar demanded that the TN government permit Telugu students to write public examinations in their mother-tongue, and take others steps that would secure the future of Telugu people who have been making valuable contributions to various fields in TN.
The governments of TN and Andhra Pradesh should take necessary action in their mutual interest with the involvement of the respective film industries and other stakeholders.
