KDA fetes 64 students studying Kannada in Kasargod

Kasargod, Aug 18: As part of their efforts to promote the use and growth of Kannada language, the Kannada Development Authority feted 64 students studying in Kannada-medium higher secondary and high schools in Kasargod district at a programme near here on Sunday.

In a programme organized by the Authority at Edneer Math near here on Sunday, a total of 64 Kannada-medium students were presented awards based on their academic performance in 2012-13. Kannada litterateur and film director Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar inaugurated the programme and presented the awards to the chosen students.

Speaking after inaugurating the programme, Mr Chandrashekar said that languages created bonds between people and brought them together.

However, it was a misdemeanor to use languages as a dividing force between communities, he said, adding that vernacular languages faced threat of extinction due to the increasing usage of English language.

Today, the rise in usage of English language due to globalisation has led to the decline of several regional languages across the world.

If the usage of Kannada begins to diminish gradually, various cultural dimensions such as folk lore, proverbs, Yakshagana, Bayalaata and festivals will disappear along with it. Love and respect for Kannada language does not necessarily mean condemnation of other vernacular languages of the country. However, along with respect for other vernacular languages, one's first duty and priority should be towards Kannada, he said, encouraging students to use and promote Kannada language.

While 29 Kannada-medium students from higher secondary and high schools in the district with A plus grades in all subjects last year were awarded Rs 7,000 each, 35 students with highest marks in Kannada-medium schools were awarded Rs 6,000 each. All the 64 students were presented with a wristwatch, school bag, Kannada-Kannada dictionary, Kannada-English dictionary and a certificate.

Speaking on the occasion, president of the authority Dr Mukhyamantri Chandru said that it has become inevitable to make efforts to save Kannada language due to several risks it faced such as invasion of English and the inferiority complex among people to speak in local languages. “Although the universal language of English should be embraced in wake of globalisation, we need to delve on the extent it should be embraced and accepted”, he said.

Stressing on the importance of vernacular languages, he said that languages helped in developing friendship and kinship. “Along with retaining our mother-tongue, we ought to show the same respect and love towards other vernacular languages; else we will lose our nationalism,” he said, adding that one should learn other regional languages and forge more bonds.

The programme was presided by Kasargod MLA N A Nellikkunnu, who promised to lend support from the state government to the large number of Kannada-speaking people in Kerala.

Former Chairman of Karnataka Konkani Academy Kasaragod Chinna, former Chairman of Kannada Sahitya Parishad (Kerala Chapter) I V Bhat, president of Parthisubba Yakshagana Kalakshetra (Kerala) Jayaram Edneer and secretary of the authority K Muralidhar were present on the occasion.