Recently, Purushothama Bilimale, a scholar and former head of Jawaharlal Nehru University’s Kannada Language Chair took over as the chairman of the Kannada Development Authority (KDA), a body that works for the development of Kannada.
In an interview with The Parami News, he explained about his plans for KDA and special programmes in Bengaluru, Kannada teaching to non-Kannadigas and assistance to schools having taken place there.
What are your priorities as the KDA chairman?
My highest priority is transmitting Karnataka’s history and culture, a Sarva Janangada Shanthiya Thota (a peaceful garden for all faiths) to its younger generations. My idea is to come up with well-considered projects which can be achieved at low cost within a set time limit.
The State government has put on hold jobs-for-locals Bill temporarily following an industry storm. What do you think about it?
The actions I took when I became Chairman include pleading with the government to effect them. However, it must be conceded that no such policies have been upheld by courts in India today.
A proposal will be submitted to the government to draft a Bill that offers reservations for Kannadigas in private firms – 75% in group ‘C’ and ‘D’ posts, and 25% in other posts. During the discussion in the Legislature, the ratio can be negotiated. Reservation of jobs for local residents would lead us into federalism.
But earlier initiatives such as Kannada Language Comprehensive Development Act fell through…
Later on 2023, Govt approved this act and issued gazette notification but nothing happened after that. For instance it is provided by Act emphasis was placed on using kannada language as medium of instruction in schools whereas school education minister encouraged English medium teaching thus approving English as medium of instruction even at govt schools. To this end I expressed my dissatisfaction with the government decision.
In rural areas, mostly Kannada medium schools, government schools are closing due to low enrolment. How can we keep them running?
We are in a position to emulate the Delhi model school development. As soon as Arvind Kejriwal became Chief Minister, Delhi Board of School Education did a study to determine why parents and children preferred private schools. Private schools have nice buildings, clean toilets, drinking water and playgrounds among others, which attract parents and children as they use modern technology like projectors and computers.
The infrastructure was improved by Kejriwal led government on the basis of this study. In addition, his government allocated 33% of its total budget to education. All vacant posts of teachers have been filled. Government schools have been developed to be competitive with private schools.
Thus some private institutions in Delhi had enrolled very few students in the last decade that has made them almost non-existent whereas government institutions’ attendance increased slightly over time. Similarly in Karnataka, if good buildings are put up for them, basic amenities provided and enough teaching staff appointed then parents will prefer bringing their children to public premises.
Which one is true?
Why do you oppose English as medium of instruction in government schools?
Yes, I agree, that is why I am saying children need to know some English. Nevertheless, if Kannada is made mandatory for classes 1-5 with English being taught as a language from grade one, our Kannada schools will survive. This will also enable the students to be better speakers of these languages. However, this does not make sense to the governments.
We have failed to make parents and citizens understand why we want their children learn in their mother tongues. Having visited many countries no linguist has ever told me that there is no need for teaching in one’s mother tongue. If we the others who haven’t improved our government schools start off with an English medium just to conceal this inadequacy then it shall only aggravate the matter.
Do you have any special plan for revival of govt schools?
In the state there are hundreds of such century old government schools. I have given letters to the department asking them for a record of all those kinds of schools. My dream is transforming these into model schools’. What I intend to do is visit those places, check what they already have and what they need next time round and make arrangements on my own incase I get no money from government.
If this fails; I can always turn towards public, alumni and donors and ask them for money so that we can develop such like centres. The thrust will unfold on November 1st 2024 with a target deadline set at March 31st 2025 which aims at developing at least fifty centenary schools.
What are your plans about developing Kannada in Karnataka?
It becomes important to tell students about harmonious culture of Karnataka.Such authority will publish hundred books on Karnataka’s history and its culture each book containing seventy two pages. They will be systematically supplied free of charge (F.O.C) to school and college pupils.In addition conventions and seminars will be held at zonal level.
Toponymy is important to know the linguistic-cultural-historical significance of the place. Writer Shamba Joshi had said this long time ago. Every town name has a cultural history. However, recently we have seen that names are being dropped from boards. Some names are being changed unnecessarily. NSS volunteers will help to put up town names on these crossover street signs.
Is there any plan of formulating language policy for protection of minor languages?
While indigenous languages like Kannada are facing threat, the organization like KDA plays a key role in this regard. According to UNESCO, India has 172 endangered languages including many languages spoken in Karnataka State. This is when KDA must do things properly and whole-heartedly because it is going through a real crisis. It should arm itself with such forms as Kannada and Karnataka’s other minority languages against the challenges of globalisation.
It requires research into how constitutional issues can be avoided if the state language is made compulsory at primary level. Karnataka needs its language policy so as not to lose or destroy Urdu, Koraga, Kodava, Badaga, Siddhi, Kurumba, Worli, Chenchu, Irula Gauli, Yerava Soliga Bari among others. This work can be a model for all India in that direction too.
How do you propose teaching non-Kannadigas Kannada?
The capital city of Karnataka has today become a melting pot of cultures with so many people who are not Kannadigas residing in Bengaluru, Mysore and other cities. Therefore there are plans to introduce basic Kannada listening speaking reading and writing classes that would go for three days every week between six o’clock and seven o’clock pm.
Over 250 have already approached the Authority about this matter. The authority will also teach Kannada to the multi-national companies’ employees and residents living in apartments. Similarly, some private medical colleges have requested the same Authority to teach the students from out of state how to speak in Kannada.
Will you talk with the Union government about establishing a classical language center for Kannada?
However, since its recognition as a classical language in 2008, the Kannada Classical Language Centre has not come under the administrative jurisdiction of the State government. Informally, a committee headed by Deputy Director of Parliament at New Delhi has been set up by this Authority to enforce rules given by Central government’s statute book. The Authority therefore seeks to place Kannada Classical Language Centre under control of state Government.
