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'Soft' measures to promote Kannada - the time is now?
Written By silkboard - 17 November, 2011
Bangalore kannada language Analysis Others Language and Culture
Okay. I wrote this on Rajyotsava day itself, but didn't post for fear of generating the wrong kind of debates. Two weeks later, here it is.
Over last few years, I have noticed that my broken kannada always gets me better "service" and "treatment" almost everywhere. I do get 'caught', due to language error or slip in accent. It used to be within a minute 5 years ago, takes much longer to get 'caught' now. But I notice that the 'connect' increases after I get 'caught'. The fact that I am making an attempt earns me some points that I didn't expect. There is no bus stop near my office, but on return trips from lunch, 7 out of 10 times in a regular Bus, and 9 out of 10 if a Volvo, I get dropped right at my office simply because I request in kannada (alli swalpa nilasthira). Test this yourself, with requests in english, and hindi, percentage obliged would drop down a lot. Autorickshaw, Cab, Chikkangadis to Mall checkouts, it just helps and works better.
The interesting thing I notice these days though is a gradual increase in conversations of following type that start after I get 'caught'. "Wish everyone made an attempt". "Yaaradru kaleebahudu saar". "Why are they not?". And even, "Outsiders must". Based on observations over last few years, I get a feeling that there is a growing undercurrent of disappointment at visible decline of kannada at Bangalore. How long before scrupulous elements tap into this in wrong ways!? Not that the fear of that happening has to drive things, but what would be wrong with some 'soft' measures to promote kannada in Bengaluru, or perhaps all of state?
Examples:
- Pushing for language training for any employee/worker hired from outside the state. Per worker/employee trained, your company gets Rs 1000 worth rebates on state taxes.
- A state supported test of spoken kannada (TOSK). Those with acceptable score in this test get 5% off on property tax.
- "Teach your neighbour" program funded by state or corporates. Prove that you helped your neighbour clear TOSK, and 5% extra discount on your property tax.
- Trainer incentive for people willing to teaching the language. Choose your method, choose your style, but anyone helping others learn kannada gets support from the state.
What is 'soft' about things like above, you may argue. Each may have a different take on "hard" and "soft", but things like above are not extreme nor do they infringe on anyone's rights. State can't extort, but can certainly encourage via "subsidies". After all, any motive needs the language of money to succeed.
And yes, the "soft" measures would have to be designed well to prevent fraud and misuse. But seems to me that such measures are possible to create and execute. And we all get to gain from it, more speakers for a nice sanskrit based language, and generally better experiences all around.
Alva?
COMMENTS
another example of how not to do it
murali772 - 5 January, 2012 - 12:56
some drivers and conductors viewed the vehicle as their personal fiefdom to run as they pleased, that they felt when you were on ‘their territory’ they could be as rude as they wanted to, and the fact that the rudeness went up several notches when they figured you didn’t speak Kannada. I learnt the exact meaning of the word 'disdain’ on these buses.
I think it's perfectly reasonable to be expected to learn the local language, but it should be a matter of choice. I don’t want to be bullied into it. I don’t want to be judged for not speaking it. I don't want to stop using a public service, supposedly run by professionals, because I don't speak it.
And on Wednesday, I realized how deep my outsider status was. I stopped two men on my bus from thrashing a girl they suspected of trying to steal a purse. No crime was perpetrated, they didn't have a shred of evidence, yet they started slapping the young girl around. I yelled at them and advised her to get off. Well, they had a new victim. How dare I, a Hindi-speaking interloper, interfere in their righteous rage, in their democratic right to take the law into their hands? Out came the trump card — get out of here if you don't speak Kannada. ‘Nikal jao idhar se’.
For the full report in the ToI, click here.
Very much as some people may be vary of discussing such matters in the open, I feel compelled to do so lest the silence of the majority ( I am certain the majority is opposed to such ways of a handful of chauvinists) leads us to eventual Talibanisation of the state.
May be we should pursue the meeting with Sri Govind Karjol seriously.
perhaps we should be meeting this minister
murali772 - 6 December, 2011 - 07:34
After reading this, I now feel we should be meeting the Kannada and culture minister, Sri Govind M Karjol, rather than any body else.
as silkboard has stated, silkborad has correctly understood me and others have misunderstood me;
when I said ours, I did not men that people from karnataka or kannadigas versus others, but praja members and the powers that be who implement our views;
many thanks
Srinath Heragu
murali772 - 13 September, 2015 - 12:33
Last evening, I was at a Raghu Dixit show at HSR layout. The show was just mind-blowing. And, the best part is that almost 75% of the songs he sang were in Kannada, a few based on old folk-lore, which got even my m-i-l dancing a few steps. This man is single-handedly taking Kannada to its pinnacle, by popularising it amongst the youth, who were just freaking out on the music, joining in the chorus, and loudly too, irrespective of whether many even understood a word of what they were singing.
We got a few minutes with him after the show (my nephew, AJ, a young guitarist, is now part of the group), when I got ask him why Kannada needs "rakshanae" (by KRV), when he is providing it all the "uddara/ proathsahana" (words used by him). He agreed totally that it's all misplaced.
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