The Tamil Nadu government’s decision to enforce Tamil as a compulsory first language in all State board schools has become a bone of contention for students in Kannada-medium schools in border areas.
About 3,000 students studying in 150 Kannada schools in Hosur, Erode, and Krishnagiri districts will have to bear the consequence of this move, according to the Kannada Development Authority (KDA). Students going into class 10 this academic year will have to learn Tamil as their first language and write the public exam at the end of the year.
In Talawadi of Erode district alone, about 500 students are going into class 10 in 42 schools, claimed Mohammad Rameezuddin, president of Talawadi Kannada Sangha. “We have decided to approach the Madras High Court questioning the Government Order,” he said. The Karnataka Border Area Development Authority (KBADA) is also planning to take legal recourse and is awaiting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s nod.
Subhasa S. Chayagol, president, KBADA, said he had written to Mr. Siddaramaiah and Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee asking them to take up the issue with their counterparts in Tamil Nadu.
Describing Tamil Nadu government’s move as “an infringement of constitutional rights of linguistic minorities,” writer Baragur Ramachandrappa said the order was bound to be quashed if questioned in the Supreme Court.
Notification of the Directorate of Public Instruction, TN, on May 4
“Even if there are students of different linguistic groups in class 10, who will appear for the first time for the public board examination, they must be trained to learn Tamil as first language as quickly as possible, with the help of special teachers and special classes.”
“The Tamil Nadu government’s move could result in closure of Kannada schools in Erode, Krishnagiri and Hosur”
L. Hanumanthaiah,Chairman, Kannada Development Authority
“When Gokak Committee recommended first language status to Kannada, the High Court of Karnataka struck it down. Subsequently, the Supreme Court upheld the High Court order”
Baraguru Ramachandrappa,Chairperson, Text Book Revision Committee