Date:02/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/02/stories/2008110254270500.htm

Kerala - Kozhikode

VS seeks classical tag for Malayalam

Special Correspondent

Malayalam Day celebrations inaugurated

Separate varsity likely for research in Malayalam
Asks Ministers, officials to issue orders in Malayalam

Kozhikode: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has said that the Centre has ignored only one member of the Dravidian language family, Malayalam, in the matter of conferring classical status.

The Chief Minister, who was inaugurating the State level Malayalam Day and Official Language Week celebrations on Saturday pointed out that Tamil, Telugu and Kannada had been conferred classical status. More Central assistance would be available for the development of languages which had been conferred classical status. He asserted that Malayalam too was eligible for it. Mr. Achuth anandan said that the question of setting up a separate varsity for the study and research of Malayalam langua ge, Kerala culture and linguistics was under the government’s active consideration.

On the use of Malayalam as the official language, he pointed out that while the district and taluk offices had met 80 per cent of the target till October, it was confined to 40 per cent at the Secretariat level. He dubbed it a matter of serious concern. The officials had the legal and moral responsibility to translate the government’s official language policy into reality. He asked the Ministers and the secretaries to issue their orders in Malayalam as far as possible.