We are all set to welcome 2007, the 51st year of Karnataka's statehood, the 51st year of the recognition of Kannadanaadu as a "stand-alone" state wherein Kannada can flourish.
However, it is a sad fact that Kannada's flourishing is fast receding from the realm of possibility, let alone entering the realm of visibility! A day's visit to Bengalooru confirms this: Kannada is virtually banned in the Malls, shopping complexes, commercial establishments, central government offices and MNCs! Of course nobody has the guts - like the British had - to put up apartheid-ish signs saying "Kannada speakers and dogs not allowed inside", but every other instrument of linguistic oppression against us in our own land is well in place: no customer service in Kannada, no banks in Kannada, no receptionists speaking Kannada, no roadsigns in Kannada, you name it: it's either not there in Kannada at all, or Kannada is hidden away from where you can see it like dirty underwear. English and Hindi are taking up those "primetime" slots.
Some people (well, actually mostly the newspapers and tv channels) attribute this to globalization and the emergence of a "resurgent India". But what kind of resurgence is this, when our own language is being wiped off our own state? This is not progress, this is the sign of doom. This is the sign of a disintegrating India, the disintegration catalysed by the so called "educated Indian".
It is sad that up-and-coming Kannadiga youth are buying this suicidal theory. They've got money in their hands, but fail to understand that that very money is an instrument with which to resurrect Kannada in Karnataka. That money works wonders in this capitalistic world: customer is god!
So let's make a new year resolution, one resolution worth making this new year, and stick to it:
By sticking to this basic resolution, Kannadiga youth can work wonders in resurrecting Kannada in Karnataka. And when that happens, we can be sure that we're progressing - for it is Kannada with which Kannadigas can communicate and cooperate and rise higher; not english, not any other language.
However, it is a sad fact that Kannada's flourishing is fast receding from the realm of possibility, let alone entering the realm of visibility! A day's visit to Bengalooru confirms this: Kannada is virtually banned in the Malls, shopping complexes, commercial establishments, central government offices and MNCs! Of course nobody has the guts - like the British had - to put up apartheid-ish signs saying "Kannada speakers and dogs not allowed inside", but every other instrument of linguistic oppression against us in our own land is well in place: no customer service in Kannada, no banks in Kannada, no receptionists speaking Kannada, no roadsigns in Kannada, you name it: it's either not there in Kannada at all, or Kannada is hidden away from where you can see it like dirty underwear. English and Hindi are taking up those "primetime" slots.
Some people (well, actually mostly the newspapers and tv channels) attribute this to globalization and the emergence of a "resurgent India". But what kind of resurgence is this, when our own language is being wiped off our own state? This is not progress, this is the sign of doom. This is the sign of a disintegrating India, the disintegration catalysed by the so called "educated Indian".
It is sad that up-and-coming Kannadiga youth are buying this suicidal theory. They've got money in their hands, but fail to understand that that very money is an instrument with which to resurrect Kannada in Karnataka. That money works wonders in this capitalistic world: customer is god!
So let's make a new year resolution, one resolution worth making this new year, and stick to it:
"I will not use any language other than Kannada for interacting with anybody, anywhere, for any reason inside Karnataka. If this is not possible at my workplace, I shall not let that interfere with the world outside work. Even at work, I will not patronize any language other than Kannada. Outside work, I will demand service in Kannada in banks, malls, central government offices, while obtaining customer services, everywhere! This is my birthright, and this is the least I can do to serve Karnataka, and thereby India."
By sticking to this basic resolution, Kannadiga youth can work wonders in resurrecting Kannada in Karnataka. And when that happens, we can be sure that we're progressing - for it is Kannada with which Kannadigas can communicate and cooperate and rise higher; not english, not any other language.
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