Days numbered for Koya language

• Lack of script spells doom
• Younger generation of Koya-speaking people are forced to learn in Telugu medium, which is leading to dropouts
• Dictionary being compiled

Rajahmundry: Language is the key for the survival of human race. It is pretty much the identity of a person. For this very reason, any person who immigrates to a foreign land holds his mother tongue dear. However, in this digital age, many languages are dying. Language pundits claim that as many as 6,608 languages have been extinct. ‘Koya’ - a language of tribals, which is spoken by an estimated 5.70 lakh people, is on a death bed because of lack of script.

While scripts have been prepared for Gond and Savara languages, Koya which has more speakers than the two languages combined has been neglected. Tribals in Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh and Khammam, Warangal, Karimnagar and Adilabad districts in Telangana speak the language. However, the younger generations, who are the torch bearers for the languages are at a loss, because the schools in which they study doesn’t teach their mother tongue.

Due to the lack of script, the younger generations of tribals, who are attending school are forced to study in Telugu medium. This task is daunting on the younger generations – who predominantly speak Koya at their home. This very fact has led to many dropouts, who since have dabbed themselves in agriculture and cattle rearing.

Kobasi Deva, a student from Kothuru village in Chintur mandal in East Godavari says, “I quit the school as I couldn’t understand Telugu. Though I am rearing Bakka (Cows), am willing to join if they taught us in Koya language.” Deva echoed the anguish of many Koya-speaking students, who has to drop out from school, even if they want to study. Though there are efforts to prepare glossary for Koya language, scholars stress the need for the script. Gorre Nageswara Rao who is studying class 10 in Telasipaka Residential School in Chintur mandal lamented that it is getting difficult for him to study in Telugu as he speaks Koya at home. He appealed to publish Koya Bharathi learning books again.

Koya Bharathi, a State government initiative, used to publish books in Gond, Koya, Konda Kolami, Kuvi, Adivasi Odiya, Banjara and Savara languages. These books were provided to the students of class 1, 2 and 3 but they have been stopped from 2008, for the reasons best known to the government.

Dictionary being compiled

Under the aegis of Union Ministry of Human Resources Development, Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore is preparing a multi-lingual dictionary in Koya language by compiling words, which are being used by the community in daily life.

A twenty member-team led by Dr P V B Sanjeeva Rao a lecturer in S K V T College in Rajahmundry has compiled words in connection with verbs, flowers, food, attires, body parts, religion, relatives, ornaments, diseases, birds and animals being used in daily life by Koyas. This dictionary will elaborate meaning of one word in Telugu, English, Koya and Hindi languages. The team is guided by reader-cum-research officer of CIIL Dr Challa Venkata Sivaramakrishna.

Speaking to The Hans India Sanjeeva Rao said that their team visited twin Godavari districts in Andhra Pradesh and Khammam in Telangana and various districts in Chhattisgarh and collected 25,000 words, which are being used by Koya-speaking people. “We have compiled a dictionary and sent to the Human Resources Department,” he added.