Make Kannada compulsory from Class I to X: Author

Mangaluru: Noted author B Prabhakar Shishila voiced his apprehension regarding the current position of the Kannada language and called upon the state govt to implement a directive making Kannada compulsory as the teaching medium from first standard to tenth standard across Karnataka's educational institutions.
English needs to be introduced as a connecting language across schools. The condition of Kannada-medium educational institutions is concerning due to an acute shortage of teaching staff. The situation is particularly alarming as more than 7,000 schools are functioning with just one teacher, Shishila said, delivering the presidential address at the 27th District Kannada Sahitya Sammelana organised by Dakshina Kannada District Kannada Sahitya Parishat at Mangalore University campus on Friday.
"Though the govt needs to reserve 6% of their GDP for education, the Centre and state govt have been spending only 2%. Literary enthusiasts should cultivate the habit of purchasing books and establishing personal libraries. Though Kannada secured eight Jnanpith Awards, many households in Karnataka do not possess these award-winning works," he lamented.
He called upon writers to focus on the eradication of inequality in society and become the voice of pluralism. "The primary objective behind the demand to ‘change the Constitution' campaign is to eliminate the principles of equality and secularism," he noted.
Assembly speaker UT Khader released the souvenir on the occasion, and announced that discussions will be held to allocate funds to hold literary meets in villages. He called upon parents to introduce the literary world to their children, and thereby help them gain knowledge and develop personality. The speaker stressed the need to have data on writers and poets in each taluk.
Renowned poet BR Lakshman Rao, inaugurating the literary meet, expressed his concern over the decline in freedom of expression. "Writers are increasingly hesitant to express their views due to fears of misinterpretation, often exacerbated by social media platforms," he said, and also expressed concern over the challenges confronting the publishing industry.