Classical language status demanded for Telugu

New Delhi: The demand for recognition of Telugu as a classical language has gained momentum with the Andhra Pradesh government, backed by all parties across the political spectrum, forcefully asking the Centre to accept its request.

Citing the case of Tamil, which had been accorded this status last year, leaders of Andhra Pradesh have intensified their efforts to secure the classical status to their mother tongue and recently passed an unanimous resolution in the state assembly.

Armed with the resolution, an all-party delegation led by State Cultural Affairs Minister M Satyanarayna Rao met Union Culture Minister Ambika Soni here on Wednesday and placed the demand. Rao is the Chairman of the Task Force Committee for recognition of Telugu as Classical Language.

"An agitated atmosphere among several people including the men of letters and lovers of Telugu language is mounting in our state day by day," the memorandum submitted by the delegation said.

Main Opposition TDP, which championed the cause of "Telugu self-respect" during N T Rama Rao's time, joined the bandwagon and filed a petition in the AP High Court sharing the demand.

Further, veteran Telugu film lyricist Veturi Sundararama Murthy announced his decision to return a national award presented to him by the Central Government.

The Official Language Commission of the state and Telugu University too made fervent appeals to recognise Telugu as a classical language.

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New Delhi, March 8 : An all-party delegation from Andhra Pradesh today called on Union Culture Minister Ambika Soni and demanded classical language status for Telugu.

The delegation, led by state Sports minister and Chairman of a Task Foce appointed for the purpose, told Soni that Telugu satisfies the criteria of antiquity of 1500 years laid down for granting status of classical language as it has a history of 3000 years.

Besides, Telugu is the second largest spoken language after Hindi in the country, Rao said.

He submitted a memorandum to Soni signed by a large number of MPs from the state cutting across party lines.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Soni said: "They have put their views across. They have also put in their point of view on certain notification of the Cabinet which I am not aware of, but I have put it down, which they feel are discriminatory.

"I am going to prepare a letter on their behalf and put it to the Prm inister. And from thre, we will move forward." The representation of the all-party delegation follows a unanimous resolution of the state assembly demanding classical language status of Telugu.

Courtesy: NewKerala
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