Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter SILENCING THE MOTHER TONGUE KANNADA IGNORED BY KANNADIGA OFFICIALS

BY. FIROZ.T.TOTANAWALA 

 THE BANGALORE METRO REPORTER 

 SILENCING THE MOTHER TONGUE 

 KANNADA IGNORED BY KANNADIGA OFFICIALS 

 This is the month of celebrations; especially, the celebrations devoted to the cultural activities of the people of Karnataka, their spoken language, Kannada and its promotion, which is the pride of Kannadigas. But some departments and its officials who are themselves Kannadigas have determined to undermine the celebrations. While the Kannada development activists and protectionists are striving to get the classical language’s status and recognition for Kannada, there are careless and selfish Kannadigas who care a damn for the state, its language, and its safeguarding and promotion. 

 THE PLOT 

 The State Bank of Mysore and its associate bank were all indulging in illegal printing and sale of stamp papers, the scam of which has run into multi crores. Later, the same was halted and the then Inspector General of Registration and Commissioner of Stamps and the then Revenue Secretary to the Government, brought out the unique process of franking the amount collected on the document sheets, effective from 2nd November, 2009, with much fanfare. 

 THE EASY SOLUTION 

 The officials offered to supply and install Pitney Bowes’ Franking Machines at Sub Registrars office, where in the Sub Registrar authorities would frank the required amount of stamp duty on the document after receiving the amount for the same. Arguably, this method is regarded as the easiest and safest method for stamp duty payment. 

 THE BLUNDER

 However, the Franking seal prepared for the purpose brought disgrace to the state. The officials had failed to pay due attention to the inclusion of the Kannada language on the Franking seal. It is understandable that the company, whom the contract for franking was given to, is a foreign based one and what goes beyond ones understanding is that the blunder of omission of Kannada was committed by none other than our own Kannadigas. 

 Only the words in English and Hindi languages were used neglecting the use of Kannada in its franking, the act of which has hurt the feelings of the Kannadigas and brought an insult to their language, which they love most. Added to the injury, it was done by these officials in the Rajyotsava month and that too on the very next day after the officials had enjoyed the holiday of the Rajyotsava day. 

 THE SEAL OF INSULT

 Now, let us observe the Franking seal prepared by the Pitney Bowes India Pvt. Ltd., as per the directions of the then IGR&CS and the then Revenue Secretary. The Franking seal contains [1] the department’s name, [2] the amount paid, [3] ‘Karnataka’ and [4] ‘Bharat’, which are either in English or Hindi. The entire seal is in English and Hindi and there is no usage of the Kannada language at all. 

 No body is against the English or Hindi language. India is our nation and of course English as a language is widely used and accepted here and Hindi on the other hand is but our own National Language. But, what about Kannada, the official language of the state? The Franking process is initiated by the State and not by the Central Government; therefore, the State language must have been used on the seal. At least the departments name could have been printed in Kannada along side English. But who cares? The company is a foreign based one and it does not understand the language issue. What it understands is the language of money and so it does not bother whether the seals are in Kannada-Tamil or any other language. 

 SHAME ON YOU! 

 Now the question is about the officials who committed this big blunder? 

 The then Revenue Secretary Parshwanath, the then IGR&CS Niranjan and all other senior officers in the department happens to be Kannadigas. And they should have known the importance of the state language and incorporated Kannada in the Franking seal. Yet, the sad truth is that Kannada has been exterminated from the franking seal. This offence becomes further grave as it was November, the Rajyotsava Month and the arrangement was made on 2nd November, the day after the inauguration of the Rajyotsava celebrations. 

 THE GIFT TO KARNATAKA

 What would a true Kannadiga think of gifting the state, its people and culture on the occasion of Karnataka Rajyotsava Day? Contrary to what you may think, the proud Kannadigas, namely, Sri Niranjan Das, the IGR&CS, Sri Parshwanath, the Revenue Secretary and other senior officials, gifted disgrace to the state of Karnataka. They insulted the Kannada language or rather Karnataka itself.