Why are children of Kannada activists studying in English schools, asks Advocates body

PRESS NOTE
For kind favour of publication

BANGALORE July 4, 2009: The Five Year Law Course Advocates Association has come down heavily on Kannada activists, littérateurs and politicians who propagate the use of mother tongue but educate their children in English medium schools.

In a statement, Mr S. Umesh, President, Five Year Law Course Advocates Association said: “It is well known that the children and grandchildren of Kannada activists, writers and politicians study in English medium schools. Under the circumstances, they have no justification in demanding that the children of others should study in Kannada medium schools.”

Those fighting for the cause of the mother tongue should first swear on affidavit that their wards are studying in Kannada medium schools. “Unless they come out with such a declaration, they have no moral right to propagate the cause of Kannada. Ironically, some of the littérateurs who recently filed a PIL in the High Court, are themselves English teachers,” Mr Umesh noted.

The Government should follow the time-tested three language formula instead of imposing Kannada as the compulsory medium of instruction from first standard. Stating that Kannada should be taught as the first language in schools, he said, “The importance of the local language cannot be undermined. Those opposed to Kannada, have no place in Karnataka.”

In this competitive world, students of Kannada medium schools are at a disadvantage when compared to their counterparts in English medium. While Kannada needs to be respected and learnt, knowledge of English is a must to give the students of Karnataka an edge in the global scenario, Mr Umesh added.