Fervently underlining the urgent need of making regional language as medium of instruction in primary education, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in his address to the people on the occasion of 62d Kannada Rajyotsava at Kanteerava Stadium on Wendesday, regretted that centre's response for the state's effort on the issue was not encouraging.
Earlier, in his address on All India Radio (AIR), Mr. Siddaramaiah said that the government convened meeting of educational experts, intellectuals, litterateurs and legal experts to discuss the hurdles in making the regional language as medium of instruction. “Based on their recommendations, I have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene a meeting of Chief Ministers to discuss amending the Constitution to realise the dream of making regional language as medium of instruction. However, there has been no response from the PM's office so far,” he said.
At Kanteerava stadium too, the chief minister expressed concern over making regional language as medium instruction. He said he would write to the Prime Minister again and urge him to take immediate action on meeting aspirations of millions of people in the country.
Noting that the Apex court striking down Karnataka's legislation to implement Kannada as medium of instruction in primary education, Mr. Siddaramaiah said that the verdict would not only be a threat to survival of Kannada, but also to the survival of all the regional languages in the country. “There is a need for all chief ministers to join hands and pressure the centre to amend the Constitution,” he said.
Expressing concern over instances when students in a few schools were punished for speaking in Kannada, he condemnded it and said stringent actions would be initiated against such institutions. “Let students learn any language of their choice, the government has not objection to that. But the government will not tolerate sidelining of Kannada; they have to learn Kannada as a langauge,” he said and added that the government had issued an order against closure of government schools.
He regretted that even after 61 years of formation of state, it had not been possible to create a “Kannada environment”. The need of the hour is to make the people respect and learn Kannada, he said.
Pro-people language policy
The Chief Minister batted for pro-people language policy. In view of the obstacles in the way of development of Kannada and challenges ahead, he said “there is a need to have scientific and pro-people language policy” for protecting the interest of Kannada.
Noting that the government was committed to use Kannada in administration, he opined that complete use of Kannada in administration was possible only when resolutions of Cabinet, notes of ministers, Bills to be tabled in both the houses were in Kannada.
“Kannada is not mere alphabets. Kannadaness is collective consciousness of people comprising of people, land, water, life, literature, culture, art and music. Kannada is not a political instrument for me. In fact, my political life commenced from heading Kannada Kavalu Samithi and have not compromised on issue pertained to land, language and culture. After coming to power I have taken all decisions to protect Kannada,” he said.
Clarifying that Karnataka was not against Hindi and English, he said the government would not promote those languages at the cost of Kannada.