Mother tongue on wheels

In a city where majority of people are not Kannada speakers, a 'Kannada Chariot' will embark on a seven-day journey from January 15

Mother tongue on wheels

In a city where majority of people are not Kannada speakers, a 'Kannada Chariot' will embark on a seven-day journey from January 15

From January 15 onwards, don't be surprised if you spot a chariot with the Kannada alphabet on it and a procession following it in your area.

Back to basics: The chariot will be inaugurated by Chief Minister B S
Yeddyurappa on January 15 at the Vidhana Soudha at 3.30 pm

The programme is the brainchild of Kannada Development Authority, the watchdog for ensuring implementation of Kannada as an official language. Kannada was first declared the administrative language in the state in the year 1966.

"We have been fighting since 1966 for the language and struggling for Kannada education," says Mukhyamantri Chandru, Chairman, Kannada Development Authority. "Sixty-eight per cent of the people residing in the city are non- Kannadiga. The idea is to create awareness about the language and to encourage non-Kannadiga people in the state to learn the language and respect the culture. If this does not happen there will be problems in the future and we will become minorities," he adds.

The chariot will be inaugurated by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on January 15 at the Vidhana Soudha at 3.30 pm. Among those present as special guests and giving the chariot the first push will be Rashtra Kavi GS Shivarudrappa,u00a0 scholar G Venkatasubbaiah, Upper House Chairman D H Shankaramurthy, Lower House Chairman KB Boppaiah, Opposition Leader Siddharmaiah, JD(S) Chairman HD Kumaraswamy, Congress Committee President Parameshwar and Eshwarappa.

Starting with Shivaji Nagar, the chariot will tour four constituencies a day, covering 28 constituencies in the city in seven days, and ending with Raja Rajeshwari. "The chariot will have a figure of Lord Bhuvaneshwari, with the Kannada alphabet around it.

Songs in praise of the language will be sung by folklore artists from across 30 districts that will be part of the procession," says Chandru. "After a seven-day run in the city, we intend to take the chariot across the state until December, especially the areas around the border. We also plan to provide free three-month long courses for people who wish to learn the language," he adds.
"We have to go on the road to attract the attention of people," Chandru added.