Kannada Medium

1st November is the day of Kannada Rajyotsava and today (30th Nov) happens to be the last day of the Kannada month.  This blog of mine on this occasion is deliberately written in English.  There is need to spread the fragrance of Kannada and its culture to the millions of non-kannadigas who are living inside and outside Karnataka.

Quotation in Kannada in the above pic claims that Kannadigas, even without formal education are capable of writing epics!  The quotation is an extract from the first ever known book in Kannada, 'Kavirajamarga'  written by the Rashtrakuta King Amoghavarsha around 850 C.E. A number of live examples of great personalities around proves that there is no exaggeration in the statement. 

Dada Palke award winner, Padmabhushana Dr. Rajkumar (left in Pic) is a veteran Kannada film actor.  Each of his 200 films is no less than an epic.  He studied up to only 3rd standard in formal schools.

Padmasri winner Salumarada Thimmakka (middle in the pic) never went to Schools. She never had children.  But single handedly she has brought up 384 trees, along 4-kms stretch of a state highway! Probably her effort is the greatest message for preserving environment.

Padmasri winner Sulagitti Narasamma (right in the pic) too was from humble backgrounds.  She was a self-appointed midwife who has successfully performed over 15000 child deliveries in rural areas without charging any fees.  She had the expertise in identifying proper location of head and limbs of the child inside the woomb!

Karnataka is the home of 4 Bharat Ratnas.  C.V.Raman (extreme right), the Physicist was also a Nobel award winner.  Sir M.Visvesvaraiah (second from right) was a great Engineer.  Pandith Bhimsen Joshi (extreme left) is the uncrowned King of Hindustani vocal music.  Many are surprised that our great scientist C.N.R.Rao is not yet awarded a Nobel.

Karnataka undoubtedly, is the most musical state in India.  It is the only state where both the systems of Indian classical music, Hindustani and Carnatic are alive and thriving. 

Moreover Sugama Sangeeta, the system of composing and singing poems written by great poets has the deepest roots in Karnataka.  Sugama sangeeta singers like C.Aswath (right in pic above) are household names in Karnataka, although they are not film singers! Not many Indian States have such distinction.

Karnataka is also known for its rich literature.  Leaving Hindi, Kannada is the language which has produced highest number of Gnanapeeta award winners (see Pic above).

Karnataka is one of the great tourist destinations in India. Aihole temple in Bagalkot district (top row, extreme right) built around 500 C.E. is probably one of the earliest stone arts for the whole of India! 

Rev. Kittel (top left) was a German priest.  He was the first person to write a Kannada-English dictionary during 1894. Another German,  Krumbigal (inset right) was the Botanist who developed our Lalbagh under Mysuru Kings. Services of Dr. MccGann in interiors of Shivamogga District is honoured by naming the District Hospital after him.

Karnataka's contribution to the world of sports is also immense.  Karnataka cricketers are well known.  Prakash Padukone (right below) was the first Indian to win All England Open Badminton and was also rated world No. 1 during 1980. Pankaj Advani (top left) is 23 times Billiords world champion! 

Karnataka is the motherland of IT and BT giants. Bengaluru is now the home for millions of IT-BT professionals from all over the country!

While Karnataka is thriving, Kannada is languishing behind. Kannada has almost vanished from its capital, Bengaluru.  While outsiders are not interested in learning or speaking Kannada, natives too are equally disinterested.  For senior natives like me it is disgusting to see young children speaking, playing and even quarreling in English! It seems that after another 2-3 decades, Kannada is bound to become extinct in Karnataka.  This is also the sad story of all other regional languages of India.  But who is caring?

Parents can't be blamed for putting their children into English medium schools.  Their main concern is to make their children employable! Till last year in almost all rural Government Kannada Schools, students strength was poor and were facing closure.  This year Karnataka Government has introduced English Medium from 1st standard in about 1000 Government schools, at the rate of 1 school each in a hobli (sub-taluka)! This has proved a magical step.  There is huge rush for admissions in such Goverment Schools.  Parents are even taking away their children from Private English schools. 

Then how Kannada should thrive?  Fighting for Kannada medium in all Schools and Colleges is bound to be resisted by parents and administrators.  Courts too are inclined to reject such petitions. The best way is to make Kannada a compulsory subject in all classes till Graduation.  Parents and students are unlikely to oppose such a proposal.  Central Government can take initiative to implement such bold measure in all States, so that the cause of all regional languages gains strength. Of course, this is my view.  I welcome alternative views from my friends.

Before concluding I would like to place before you one question.  WHO IS THE SHRESHTA (greatest) KANNADIGA OF ALL TIMES? I am sure you people will flood me with right answers!

Long live Kannada!

Long Live All Indian Languages!!

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