Daijiworld Media Network - Moodbidri (TU/CN)
Moodbidri, Nov 28: Dr Purushotham Bilimale, director, American Institute of Indian Studies, New Delhi, said that Christianity, Islam, Jainism, and Buddhism, had made great contributions to the growth of Kannada language. Anti-social elements in the society should take lessons from the history of language to stop spreading hatred among people.
He was speaking at a seminar on ‘An Influence of Other Languages on Kannada’, at Vyasaraya Balla Sabhangan. ‘Language and culture are not separate. A language is in itself a culture. We should accept that all other languages add richness to the Kannada language. The letters of Kannada can be used to write any languages on earth’, opined Dr Bilimale.
Talking about the contributions of other major religions in India, especially Islam, Dr Bilimale said that communal forces should try to realize the facts instead of destroying the nation in the name of religion and language. He added that multiple languages should be studied to improve the level of wisdom.
Asking the government to introduce Kannada scholarships in foreign universities, so as to create foreign scholars in Kannada language, he opined that it will help bring an international standard to the language. Expressing concern over the state of Yakshagana, he said the great coastal art is not as it was two decades ago.
Dr Chandrashekar Nangalli said that Kannada language has been confronting linguistic untouchability, linguistic dictatorship, and linguistic polarization. These evils will destroy the language and culture. He said that every dialect within Kannada, was a pillar of the language. Native speakers are the owners of their own language.
‘We should reckon seriously for the enforcement of linguistic democracy’, added Dr Nangali. Writer Jayanth Kaikini also spoke during ‘'Kathasamaya’.