"Classical" Kannada....

For a few years now, I had been listening to this fight that "Kannada" should be granted the classical status. I never really knew the exact implications of this. But, I used to blindly ( but passively) wish that we got this status. I had merely observed, a few famous and respected scholars/writers fighting for this cause.

But this article in todays Deccan herald helped me understand what exactly this means.

Here are the main outcomes..

1. Two major international awards will be instituted annually for scholars of eminence.
2. A center of excellence for studies will be set up and UGC will be asked to establish professional chairs in various Central univerities.
3. The Centre to give grants upto 100 crore for promotion of the language. Every year, State may get a budgetary allocation of upto 5 crore from the center.
4. The grant is mainly to setup a Kannada Language Promotion Board under the chairmanship of an eminent scholar.
5. Kannada study centers in various international universities depending on India's bilateral agreements.
6. Opportunities for scholars to undertake research on the origin and history of the langauge.

Having read all these I feel it is indeed a major achievement. Lets hope that the funds will be used sincerely to promote Kannada. Also, it could not have been more timely for its our Rajyotsava Day, which makes it all the more special.

On this occastion I will list a few of my favorite kannada songs that inspire a sense of belonging to our state.

• ಹಚ್ಚೇವು ಕನ್ನಡದ ದೀಪ ... ಕರುನಾಡ ದೀಪ ಸಿರಿ ನುಡಿಯ ದೀಪ ಒಲವೆತ್ತಿ ತೋರುವ ದೀಪ ....
• ಜೈ ಭಾರತ ಜನನಿಯ ತನುಜಾತೆ ....ಜಯಹೇ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಮಾತೆ .... (ನಾಡ ಗೀತೆ)
  
• ಜೋಗದ ಸಿರಿ ಬೆಳಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ..ತುಂಗೆಯ ತೆನೆ ಬಳುಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ..ಸಹ್ಯಾದ್ರಿಯ ಲೋಹದಲಿನ ...
• ಎಲ್ಲಾದರು ಇರು ಎಂತಾದರು ಇರು ...ಎಂದೆಂದಿಗೂ ನೀ ಕನ್ನಡ ವಾಗಿರು.. ಕನ್ನಡ ಗೋವಿನ ಓ ಮುದ್ದಿನ ಕರು...
• ಬಾರಿಸು ಕನ್ನಡ ಡಿಂಡಿಮವ ....ಓ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಹೃದಯ ಶಿವಾ..
  
• ಉದಯವಾಗಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಚೆಲುವ ಕನ್ನಡ ನಾಡು ...
• ನಾವಾಡುವ ನುಡಿಯೇ ಕನ್ನಡ ನುಡಿ .. ನಾವಿರುವಾ ತಾಣವೇ ಗಂಧದ ಗುಡಿ ....
• ಅಪಾರ ಕೀರ್ತಿ ಗಳಿಸಿ ಮೆರೆವ ಭವ್ಯ ನಾಡಿದು ...ಕರ್ಣಾಟ ವಿದುವೆ ನೃತ್ಯ ಶಿಲ್ಪಾ ಕಲೆಯ ಬೀಡಿದು ....
• THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.... :-)
  

At the same time, congratulations to all the telugu speakers for 'Telugu' also gets the same classical status today....