By Firoz.T.Totanawala
The Bangalore Mertro Reporter
1st November 2010 Issue-
SILENCING
THE MOTHER TONGUE
KANNADA IGNORED BY KANNADIGA
OFFICIALS
This is the month of
celebrations; especially, the celebrations devoted to the cultural activities
of the people of Karnataka, their spoken language, Kannada and its promotion, which is the pride
of Kannadigas. But some departments and its officials who are themselves
Kannadigas have determined to undermine the celebrations. While the Kannada
development activists and protectionists are striving to get the classical
language’s status and recognition for Kannada, there are careless and selfish
Kannadigas who care a damn for the state, its language, and its safeguarding
and promotion.
THE PLOT
The State Bank of Mysore and
its associate bank were all indulging in illegal printing and sale of stamp
papers, the scam of which has run into multi crores. Later, the same was halted
and the then Inspector General of Registration and C Stamps and the then
Revenue Secretary to the Government, brought out the unique process of franking
the amount collected on the document sheets, effective from 2nd
November, 2009, with much fanfare.
THE EASY SOLUTION
The officials offered to
supply and install Pitney Bowes’ Franking Machines at Sub Registrars office,
where in the Sub Registrar authorities would frank the required amount of stamp
duty on the document after receiving the amount for the same. Arguably, this
method is regarded as the easiest and safest method for stamp duty payment.
THE BLUNDER
However, the Franking seal
prepared for the purpose brought disgrace to the state. The officials had
failed to pay due attention to the inclusion of the Kannada language on the
Franking seal.
It is understandable that the
company, whom the contract for franking was given to, is a foreign based one
and what goes beyond ones understanding is that the blunder of omission of
Kannada was committed by none other than our own Kannadigas.
Only the words in English and
Hindi languages were used neglecting the use of Kannada in its franking, the
act of which has hurt the feelings of the Kannadigas and brought an insult to
their language, which they love most. Added to the injury, it was done by these
officials in the Rajyotsava month and that too on the very next day after the
officials had enjoyed the holiday of the Rajyotsava day.
THE SEAL OF INSULT
Now, let us observe the Franking
seal prepared by the Pitney Bowse’s Company, as per the directions of the
IGR&CS and the Revenue Secretary. The Franking seal contains [1] the
department’s name, [2] the amount paid, [3] ‘Karnataka’ and [4] ‘Bharat’, which
are either in English or Hindi. The entire seal is in English and Hindi and
there is no usage of the Kannada language at all.
No body is against the English or Hindi language. India
is our nation and of course English as a language is widely used and accepted
here and Hindi on the other hand is but our own National Language. But, what
about Kannada, the official language of the state? The Franking process is
initiated by the State and not by the Central Government; therefore, the State
language must have been used on the seal. At least the departments name could
have been printed in Kannada along side English. But who cares? The company is
a foreign based one and it does not understand the language issue. What it
understands is the language of money and so it does not bother whether the
seals are in Kannada-Tamil or any other language.
SHAME ON YOU!
Now the question is about the officials who committed
this big blunder?
The then Revenue Secretary Parshwanath, the then
IGR&CS Niranjan and all other senior officers in the department happens to
be Kannadigas. And they should have known the importance of the state language
and incorporated Kannada in the Franking seal.
Yet, the sad truth is that Kannada has been exterminated
from the franking seal. This offence becomes further grave as it was November, the
Rajyotsava Month and the arrangement was made on 2nd November, the
day after the inauguration of the Rajyotsava celebrations.
THE GIFT TO KARNATAKA
What would a true Kannadiga
think of gifting the state, its people and culture on the occasion of Karnataka
Rajyotsava Day? Contrary to what you may think, the proud Kannadigas, namely,
Sri Niranjan Das, the IGR&CS, Sri Parshwanath, the Revenue Secretary and
other senior officials, gifted disgrace to the state of Karnataka. They insulted
the Kannada language or rather Karnataka itself.
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