‘Kannada must receive highest recognition in Karnataka,’ says professor at Karnataka university

Senior writer and cultural thinker Professor K. Maralusiddappa asserted that Kannada must be accorded the highest recognition and warned that mere government patronage would not be sufficient to strengthen the language.

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Addressing the 34th convocation (Nudi Habba) of Kannada University, Hampi, held at the ‘Navaranga’ open-air theatre in the Vidyaranya campus on February 24, Prof. Maralusiddappa said the idea of building an egalitarian society depended significantly on strengthening government schools. He observed that, in rural Karnataka, government schools function not merely as educational institutions but as cultural centres of village life and are crucial to realising the social aspirations enshrined in the Constitution.

While acknowledging that no one could object to learning English as a language, he cautioned against promoting English as the medium of instruction at the cost of regional languages. Referring to the government’s move to upgrade about 700 schools into Karnataka Public Schools (KPS), or ‘magnet schools’, he expressed concern over reports that neighbouring village primary schools might be permanently closed to consolidate resources. If such decisions led to shutting down local schools, he said, it would amount to a regressive step.

Prof. Maralusiddappa also questioned whether the true spirit of federalism was being upheld in the country. Though the Constitution recognises India as a Union of States, he said decentralisation is the lifeblood of federalism and echoed Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of Gram Swaraj. However, he noted that governance in independent India appeared to be moving increasingly towards centralisation, with ‘high command’ culture prevailing across political parties.

‘Contribute to nation-building’

In his presidential address, Governor and Chancellor Thaawar Chand Gehlot called upon Ph.D. and post-graduate graduates to contribute to nation-building as India advances towards becoming a developed nation by 2047. He said India was poised to emerge as a ‘Vishwa guru’, and urged educated youth to apply their knowledge for the country’s development.

The Governor emphasised the need to promote Kannada knowledge at national and international levels, and suggested that valuable Kannada works be translated into Hindi and English. He said Kannada University should take the lead in bringing the intellectual wealth of the language to a wider audience. Noting that the university’s publication wing has brought out over 1,700 books, he said greater efforts were needed to make major Kannada works accessible beyond the State.

Higher Education Minister M.C. Sudhakar, who conferred Ph.D. degrees, said the issue of faculty and administrative staff shortages at the university would be discussed with the Chief Minister. He acknowledged financial constraints and said the government had extended support, including clearing pending electricity dues and sanctioning an additional ₹2 crore grant this year. A Cabinet sub-committee, he added, was examining the broader financial and staffing challenges faced by universities.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. D.V. Paramashivamurthy welcomed the gathering and highlighted the university’s achievements. Registrar Prof. Virupaksha Pujarahalli, Director of Academics Prof. Amaresh Yatagal and other senior officials were present.

Writer C. Mahadevappa and State Information Commissioner H.C. Sathyan were conferred with the Nadoja honorary degree at the convocation. Another writer and communist leader G. Ramakrishna, who was also selected for the honour, did not turn up.