Language policy in Karnataka is in mess now. Recent Judgement of the Supreme Court made it more complicated. Karnataka has a history of more than three thousand years. Its main language Kannada has a literary histrory of one thousand five hundred years. It is one of the ancient languages of the world. It has classical literature dating back to 943 AD. First Kannada classical epic was reportedly written in that year. Several kingdoms ruled from Karnataka. Whole of southern India was once ruled by Kings of Karnataka. Kannada was the official language of several dynasties who ruled Karnataka and several south indian states.
When East India Company took over the reigns of Indian States over two hundred years from 1757 AD and had full control over by 1857 AD, a sort of revolution started in all states including Karnataka. It had several dimensions. Social awareness created among the people due to new education system brought by Britisher. Education was opened to the natives. Majority of the population was denied the education during the rule of local kings who were guided by court priests. The society was heirarchial. There was upper and lower classes in the social structure. Thousands of castes were emerged and most of them used for service purpose.
This scenario changed after the British rule. Education opened to all section of the society. People, belonged to lower sections, participated in the development of art and culture. It was a social, literary and econimical revolution. It further enhanced after the Independence. Primacy to the regional languages prevailed after the re organisation of States based on languages. Karnataka emerged as one of the progressive States in the Union of India. Kannada was the official language in the States' administration. Efforts were underway to make it in all section of the administration, including judiciary and education.
But, with introduction of economic liberalisation, global industrial houses opened their outfits in India, particularly in Bangalore. It coincided with the Information Technology boom. Created thousands of job opportunities for the English knowing youths. This development had its impact on the education system of the Karnataka State. People madly rushed towards English medium Schools. Opening English Medium Schools became a profitable business. Politicians with the help of Officers opened thousands of English Medium Schools attracting students from higher and middle income groups. When people knew, communication skill in English fetch jobs, the rush to English Mediun Schools increased and Government Schools which were teaching in Kannada suffered students loss. State Government language policy was questioned in the court of law and resulted in the present situation.
Now, Karnataka Government Can not force any private school to teach in kannada medium. This situation may lead to the increase of English medium schools. Kannada will become unimportant and may be irrelevent in the course of time.
English language is very important now. We need English for communication. But getting knowledge in the early ages of learning, one has to get it through mother tongue. If we force English medium in children, whose childhood is surrounded by Kannada atmosphere, they may lag behind in learning. It is the major crisis as far as kannada literary world is concerned.
When East India Company took over the reigns of Indian States over two hundred years from 1757 AD and had full control over by 1857 AD, a sort of revolution started in all states including Karnataka. It had several dimensions. Social awareness created among the people due to new education system brought by Britisher. Education was opened to the natives. Majority of the population was denied the education during the rule of local kings who were guided by court priests. The society was heirarchial. There was upper and lower classes in the social structure. Thousands of castes were emerged and most of them used for service purpose.
This scenario changed after the British rule. Education opened to all section of the society. People, belonged to lower sections, participated in the development of art and culture. It was a social, literary and econimical revolution. It further enhanced after the Independence. Primacy to the regional languages prevailed after the re organisation of States based on languages. Karnataka emerged as one of the progressive States in the Union of India. Kannada was the official language in the States' administration. Efforts were underway to make it in all section of the administration, including judiciary and education.
But, with introduction of economic liberalisation, global industrial houses opened their outfits in India, particularly in Bangalore. It coincided with the Information Technology boom. Created thousands of job opportunities for the English knowing youths. This development had its impact on the education system of the Karnataka State. People madly rushed towards English medium Schools. Opening English Medium Schools became a profitable business. Politicians with the help of Officers opened thousands of English Medium Schools attracting students from higher and middle income groups. When people knew, communication skill in English fetch jobs, the rush to English Mediun Schools increased and Government Schools which were teaching in Kannada suffered students loss. State Government language policy was questioned in the court of law and resulted in the present situation.
Now, Karnataka Government Can not force any private school to teach in kannada medium. This situation may lead to the increase of English medium schools. Kannada will become unimportant and may be irrelevent in the course of time.
English language is very important now. We need English for communication. But getting knowledge in the early ages of learning, one has to get it through mother tongue. If we force English medium in children, whose childhood is surrounded by Kannada atmosphere, they may lag behind in learning. It is the major crisis as far as kannada literary world is concerned.