It’s improper to speak ill of Telugu

Kothagudem: District Collector RajivgandhiHanumanthu on Monday observed that it “is improper to speak ill of Telugu while falling for foreign languages as it is like our mother”.

Speaking after inaugurating a ‘Kavi Sammelanam’, organised as part of the preparatory programmesin connection with the World Telugu Conference, along with local MLA Jalagam Venkat Rao, Joint Collector M Kishan, he admitted studying in Telugu medium, adding that Telugu was akin to his mother. “This should not be forgotten,” the Collector observed. The VIPs garlanded the portrait of Bhakta Ramadasu.

The Collector stated that “even though one learns many languages nothing can equate the greatness of Telugu”. he said the administration was taking steps to give a pride of place to Telugu in government activities, including communications.

The MLA said Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had taken a historic decision to make Telugu compulsory from classes I to XII. He observed that ‘it is a blessing to have Telugu as our mother-tongue’.

In his address, JC pointed out that former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao, despiting learning 14 languages, had given the pride of place to Telugu. ‘Any praise for Telugu is less. If it is not respected a stage may come when a passing reference would be made to it. Such situation should not be allowed. There is a need to give due respect to the language’.

After various poets from across the district participated in the ‘Kavi Sammelanam’, organised in a traditional mode, a typical Telugu ‘bojanam’ was arranged. The food items were relished by the participants.

An exhibition of Telugu novels followed. It was well received by the audience. Earlier, the collector, JC and the MLA affixed their signatures in Telugu on a white cloth provided by the district Public Relations department. Representatives of various educational and government institutions actively participated in the Kavi Sammelanam. It was chaired by DPRO Srinivas Rao.