Telugu rhymes for tiny tots

VCD released to keep the language alive among children

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Efforts on to identify schools to teach these rhymes

Many children don't speak Telugu at home

VCD to be sold in schools soon

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HYDERABAD: The little star that twinkles in the distance and the little miss muffet need no longer herald children's education. Telugu rhymes passed down generations by word of mouth may soon be taught in schools.

The second VCD in the series, `Chinnari Chitti Geetalu' ( చిన్నారి చిట్టి గీతాలు ) or children's songs was released today by Chairman of the Official Languages Commission, A.B.K. Prasad. He said that it would form part of his efforts to identify 12 to 20 schools in various districts in the State where these rhymes may be taught.

Speakers at the cassette-release function stressed the need to keep Telugu alive among children. And the best way to do this is to initiate children into Telugu rhymes, they said.

`Child remains a child'

Many children have no experience of childhood since they are forced to study all the time. Songs like these ensure that the child remains a child, said Mr. Prasad.

Many Telugu children do not speak the language at home and if this continues Telugu will be a dead language soon. Having said this, he added, "We are not against other languages, we only want to preserve our own."

Professor at Niloufer Hospital, Dr. Narasimha Rao said the child mind has to be treated like a software that has to be programmed early in life. This is important for the child's emotional development and to promote his/her interpersonal relations.

Chairman of the A.P. Press Academy, Devulapally Amar, Additional Judge, City Civil Courts, M. Rajender and Managing Partner of Tooni Arks and animator of the VCD, J.N. Pradeep also attended the function. This VCD costing Rs. 99 may be sold in schools soon. The first VCD in the series was released in November 2004.

Courtesy: The Hindu