On the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Union government has officially confirmed its earlier decision to accord classical language status to Telugu for which the A.P. Official Languages Commission had made relentless efforts.
The Centre has addressed a communication to the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore, and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to take steps immediately to give the status to Telugu.
Making identical statements in the Assembly and the Council on Friday, Chief Minister K. Rosaiah said the Prime Minister's intervention followed letters addressed to him by MPs from the State.
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Mr. Rosaiah said the Centre had issued the notification on October 31, 2008, according classical status to Telugu, subject to the disposal of a petition in the Madras High Court opposing the move on the ground that Telugu did not enjoy antiquity for the prescribed period. The notification was the outcome of efforts by the late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy culminating in the adoption of a unanimous resolution in the Assembly on February 22, 2006.
The Chief Minister said a long-cherished dream of the Telugus was realised following the directive issued to the CIIL and UGC. It was like a garland for ‘Telugu thalli', he said and thanked the Prime Minister for the gesture.
Meanwhile, an official told this correspondent that the government was likely to get Rs. 100 crore soon for promotion of Telugu with proper protection to its antiquity by setting up
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Officials in the Commission, however, are upset that the subject of Telugu as classical language has been transferred to the Department of Culture when funds are finally flowing in. Language experts are of the view that the subject can be retained with Commission as it, dealing solely with Telugu, knows where it should be strengthened. In contrast, the department handles a variety of subjects and this may lead to lack of focus and diversion of funds.