The Hindu : Karnataka / Hassan News : Political differences hit Halmidi memorial

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Saturday, Aug 14, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Hassan

Political differences hit Halmidi memorial

By Our Staff Correspondent

HASSAN, AUG. 13. The inauguration of a memorial in Halmidi village of Belur taluk, where the earliest Kannada inscription was found, has been delayed due to differences between the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular).

The memorial constructed by the Kannada Sahitya Parishat's (KSP) district unit was to be inaugurated last November.

The Halmidi inscription, dated 450 A.D., has put an end to many controversies surrounding the evolution of Kannada. It is the earliest known record of Kannada characters. The language used, known as "poorvada halegannada" (primitive Kannada), has distinctive characteristics and resembles the Tamil script.

The etymology of the words "Kannada" and "Karnataka" continues to be debated although inscriptions from the Christian era have been found in the State.

They are either in Sanskrit or Prakrit and are generally in the Brahmi script. According to linguists, Tamil and Kannada branched off simultaneously from the Dravidian language of South India before the Christian era.

According to Srivatsa S. Vati, who has studied the ancient inscription, it was found in front of the mud fort at Halmidi.

The stone tablet was later moved to the Veerabhadra temple.

Oldest Kannada inscription

M.H. Krishna, noted archaeologist, was surprised to find that the inscription was in Brahmi script and concluded that it was the oldest Kannada inscription available. He published the details of his study in the Mysore Archaeological Report and shifted the inscription to the Archaeological Museum, Mysore, and later to the Government Museum, Bangalore.

The inscription has become a subject of study for those researching Kannada script, etymology, and Dravidan linguistics. Noted linguists and writers, including Govinda Pai, T.V. Venkatachala Shastry, M. Chidananda Murthy, R.S. Panchamukhi, D.L. Narasimhachar, and M.M. Kalburgi, have studied in inscription in depth an published papers on it.

Kannada publications such as "Prabhuddha Karnataka," "Manavika Karnataka," "Kannada Sahitya Parishat Patrike," and "Kannada Nudi" have published articles and "Epigraphia Karnataka" has dedicated a chapter to the study of the inscription.

Linguists and writers have discussed the important issues raised by the inscription in their books.

Significant contribution

Although Halmidi has made a significant contribution to the history and culture of the State, the village was neglected until recently. However, the district unit of the KSP has taken steps to make it an important centre for students of literature and linguistics. As the inscription cannot be read easily, a fibreglass replica is to be installed at the "Nenapina Mantapa" that has been built in the village.

Funds

H.B. Madana Gowda, president of KSP's district unit, said that the KSP had urged the Government to develop the village. The Government had released Rs. 1 lakh for the construction of the memorial. Members of Belur Taluk Panchayat had contributed Rs. 5000 each for the purpose. Chandrakala, zilla panchayat member, had donated Rs. 1 lakh from her fund, he added.

He regretted that a clash between the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) workers a few days before the inauguration had vitiated the atmosphere in the village.

Mr. Gowda said that many villagers wanted former Prime Minister, H.D. Deve Gowda, to inaugurate the memorial, as he was instrumental in bringing irrigation to the area.

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