Date:14/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/14/stories/2006121402000400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Concern over preference for English

Staff Reporter

`Kannadigas learning English at the cost of their mother tongue'

BANGALORE: President of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat Chandrashekar Patil on Wednesday decried the tendency of people, particularly those of the State, to learn English at the cost of the local language.

Speaking at the "Suvarna Karnataka" celebrations organised on the High Court premises by the Bangalore Advocates Association, he said that people were under some illusion with regard to English and were keen on learning it even at the cost of Kannada. While the Indians were trying to learn English ignoring their mother tongue, people in France, Germany, Japan and other countries spoke in their native language and only a small minority spoke English, he said.

Kuvempu had begun his career writing in English but had switched over to Kannada soon. His works became so popular that they came to be translated in several languages, Mr. Patil said.

Mr. Patil, who is also former chairman of the Kannada Development Authority (KDA) and retired Professor of English from Karnatak University, Dharwad, alleged said that the Centre was biased against Karnataka.

Language in courts

Mr. Patil reiterated the remarks of Chandrashekara Kambara and "Mukyamantri" Chandru that Kannada should be the language used in courts, including the High Court. He justified the use of Kannada in the High Court, saying that clients had a right to know the progress of cases and the arguments advanced for and against them. This could be achieved only if the proceedings were conducted in Kannada, he said.

Learning the mother tongue was the right of a child and not just a choice. During the initial stage of schooling, a child should be taught in his mother tongue and not in English.

If any language other than the mother tongue was imposed on a child, it was illogical and irrational, Mr. Patil said.

Justice Manjula Chellur and president of the Advocates Association of Bangalore D.L. Jagadeesh were present.