Classical Language status for Kannada?

[Harold F. Schiffman]

From: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/12/12/stories/2005121216060100.htm)

`Kannada will get classical language status'

Special Correspondent

We have explained to the Prime Minister why classical language status
should be accorded to Kannada, says Dharam Singh

GULBARGA:

 Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh on Sunday brushed aside criticism that the
Government is not taking steps to persuade the Union Government to accord
classical language status to Kannada.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Dharam Singh refused to comment on
the remarks made by Jnanpith Award winner U.R. Ananthamurthy against the
Government in this connection. He pointed out that he had met the Prime
Minister on two occasions seeking classical language status to Kannada.
Mr. Dharam Singh said during his visit to New Delhi on November 25 he
called on the Prime Minister and apprised him of the facts and also
explained why classical language status should be accorded to Kannada.

Again during the Prime Minister's visit to Bangalore, Mr. Dharam Singh
said, he had led a delegation of writers and reiterated the demand for
according classical language status to Kannada. Mr. Dharam Singh said that
the Prime Minister gave a patient hearing to the pleas of the State
Government and promised to consider the request sympathetically. "We are
confident that a positive decision will be announced soon," he said.

Mr. Dharam Singh said the Government had also lodged its protest with the
Union Government for its decision to change the criterion for according
classical status to a language. When the decision to accord classical
language status to Tamil was made, the criterion was 1,000 years for a
language to get that status but now the Union Government has increased it
to 1,500 years.

He said the Government had asked the Prime Minister to accord classical
language status to Kannada by applying the norm taken into consideration
for according similar status to Tamil.











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