Stir dampens ‘Telugu Language Day’ spirit

Hyderabad: The bifurcation issue has cast its ugly shadow on the celebrations of Telugu Language Day on Thursday as it was almost ignored in many parts of the State, especially in Telangana region. In Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari (Rajahmundry), Krishna and Kurnool where the occasion was marked with some meetings have sadly become venues for the agitators to protest against the bifurcation of the State. And in Telangana region the day lost its sheen.

While the main function of the day, which is also the 151st birth anniversary of legendary language warrior Gidugu Ramamurthy Pantulu, was held in Ravindra Bharathi in Hyderabad under the aegis of Department of Culture and Official Language Commission, a few other meetings were also conducted at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram in the city by the language lovers and litterateurs.

The Telugu Language Day (August 29) was announced by the Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy government only last year. The government which has declared 2013 as the Year of Telugu Development at the height of the Telangana movement, made plans to promote Telugu both in administration and at teaching levels. Now, these plans appear to go waste as the crisis-ridden government is unable to grapple with the prevailing situation arising out of Samaikya agitation.