Usage of Kannada as administrative language in State attributed to late Devaraj Urs
Caption: Founder-Director of CIIL Dr. D.P. Pattanayak (second from left) felicitated Sukurthang Saimar, the oldest speaker of one of the most endangered languages of India ‘Saimar,’ during the Foundation Day celebrations at CIIL here this morning. Others present were Dr. G. Devi Prasada Sastry, Reader-cum-Research Officer and Head, Centre for Tribal and Endangered Languages; former Directors of CIIL Dr. Rajesh Sachdev and Dr. O.N. Koul, Prof. Agrahara Krishnamurthy, Secretary, Central Sahitya Academy and CIIL Director Dr. S.N. Burman. [Pic. by Pragathi Gopalakrishna]
Mysore, July 17
The 44th Foundation Day of the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), organised by Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India and CIIL, began at CIIL premises in Manasagangotri here this morning.
Prof. Agrahara Krishnamurthy, Secretary, Central Sahitya Academy, New Delhi, inaugurated the three-day celebrations on ‘Cultural traditions in India’.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Krishnamurthy recalled how Kannada was made as the administrative language in the State and said that the then Chief Minister D. Devaraj Urs had problems in implementing Kannada as the administrative language as most of the officers holding high posts did not know Kannada.
He said that Devaraj Urs unexpectedly came to CIIL when Dr. Pattanayak, Founder-Director of CIIL, was present and expressed his problems to which Dr. Pattanayak suggested a solution and the same was effectively implemented.
He also recalled the efforts of late Alanahalli Krishna and Devanur Mahadev in promoting Kannada and added that the officers and staff of CIIL were like soldiers as they were protecting the linguistic languages in India.
Sukurthang Saimar, the oldest speaker of one of the most endangered language of India ‘Saimar,’ which had 25 speakers in 2009 and now has only four, was felicitated by Dr. Pattanayak.
At present, CIIL has three projects, that is, Dimensions of Language Endangerment which is already in motion; Bharath Basha Vikas Yojana and Sch-eme for Protection and Preservation of Endangered Languages, which is initiated in the 12th Five Year Plan.
Former Directors of CIIL Dr. Rajesh Sachdev, Dr. O.N. Koul, Prof. N. Ramaswamy and Dr. Annamalai were also felicitated.
Dr. R. Subbakrishna, Dy. Director, CIIL, welcomed. Dr. S.N. Burman, Director, CIIL, presided.
Dr. G. Devi Prasada Sastry, Reader-cum-Research Officer and Head, Centre for Tribal and Endangered Languages and others were present. The celebrations, which will conclude on July 19, will also feature cultural programmes.
source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / July 17th, 2012