HDK: The English patient

Following in dad Deve Gowda's footsteps, the former chief minister will also take lessons in Hindi so that he can be effective in Parliament

HDK: The English patient

Following in dad Deve Gowda's footsteps, the former chief minister will also take lessons in Hindi so that he can be effective in Parliament

Former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy is planning to take lessons in English and Hindi so that he can be heard "loud and clear" in Parliament.

Kumaraswamy, who resigned as Ramanagar MLA yesterday, is employing a professor from Tumkur University to teach him oratory skills in English and Hindi, according to a JD(S) source.

The Bangalore (Rural) MP wasn't too keen to resign from the Assembly because his calculation did not click, the source said. "He could not become a central minister because JD(S) got only three seats."

He is said to have told dad H D Deve Gowda that he'd rather be active in state politics. But, the patriarch advised him against it and asked him to learn English and Hindi instead so that he could have a bright future in national politics. Incidentally, Gowda himself took Hindi lessons when he was prime minister.

"The problem with Kumaraswamy is that he has no time to attend classes regularly," said the source. "However, the professor will schedule classes to suit his timings."

Though a student of the reputed Vijaya College, the former chief minister is fluent only in Kannada.

"But he is now learning Urdu from Zameer Ahmed Khan and tries to speak in Hindi whenever he gets an opportunity," said Milind Dharmasena, JD(S) general secretary.

Milind said he, along with other party leaders good at Hindi and English, would give Kumaraswamy language tips. Though he was a keen learner, Milind felt formal learning was more effective.

He's different

Of late, Karnataka MPs have been criticised for not being articulate inu00a0 Parliament and Kumaraswamy does not want to be lumped with the rest.

Soon after he resigned as an MLA, he said: "We have to represent our state effectively in Parliament and will ensure that our voice is heard in the House loud and clear."

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