Assembly on Telugu's Classical Status

19th Mar, 2010: The AP State Legislative Assembly today thanked the government for the step of according the "classical language" to Telugu.

The chief miniser K Rosaiah extended his gratutude to the PM Manmohan Singh and other Union Ministers for according the status to the state's language. He thanked all MPs from Andhra Pradesh as well, for their co-operation in achieving the classical language status.

In 2008, the centre had issued a notification declaring that Telugu was a classical language, but the notification was subject to disposal of Public Interest Litigation pending before the Madras High Court.

to the government, for a language to be considered "classical", the following criteria must be fulfilled - high antiquity of its early texts/recorded history over a period of 1500-2000 years; a body of ancient literature/texts, which is considered a valuable heritage by generations of speakers; that the literary tradition be original and not borrowed from another speech community.

However, the government also says that classical language and literature being distinct from modern, there may also be a discontinuity between the classical language and its later forms or its offshoots.

Courtesy: FullHyderabad

ABK approaches SC over Telugu's classical status

HYDERABAD: Aggrieved over the way the issue of classical status to Telugu language has been held up in a legal tussle, chairman of the AP

official language commission ABK Prasad approached the Supreme Court praying it to resolve the matter. It can be recalled, following a petition by a Chennai based lawyer that the Madras High Court had earlier said that granting of classical status to Telugu and Kannada shall be subject to the outcome of the writ in Madras High Court.

"This order of the Madras High Court is coming in the way of release of assistance and grants by the central government to universities and academicians who are keen to pursue greater research into the richness of Telugu language," ABK said in his petition to the apex court. KV Dhanunjaya, the advocate for the commission in the Supreme Court told TOI that Madras High Court has no jurisdiction to hear this case and the grant of classical status to Telugu language is a bonafide decision taken by the Government of India and it cannot invite any objection by a resident of Tamil Nadu at all.

Incidentally, ABK, whose term as chairman of the official language commission has come to an end on Saturday, is leaving the office with this special leave petition in the apex court.

During his two terms in office, ABK had relentlessly worked for the usage of Telugu language in the administration and could succeed in bringing tangible progress in at least 7 districts.

Courtesy: TOI

Andhra Pradesh: 5 walled cities from 300 B.C. unearthed

HYDERABAD: Andhras flourished during the time of Chandragupta Maurya much before the advent of the Satavahanas, and were said to be as powerful as Mauryans. They had 30 fortified walled cities way back in 300 BC, wrote the Greek traveller Megasthenes in his Indika. In what could be an exciting discovery, the State Department of Archaeology and Museums has identified five of those 30 walled cities.

The Department has found physical evidence proving Megasthenes right and by the same token –– throwing light on the existence of Andhras and Telugu language before the Satavahana period. The study is part of a project taken up to find the 30 walled cities mentioned by the Greek traveller and historian in his travelogue.

‘‘Though the Andhras were mentioned in books dating back to 1,000 BC, we have physical evidence like coins and pottery only from the Satavahana period (200 BC - 200 AD). Our research based on Indika of Megasthenes strengthens the theory that the Andhras existed before the Satavahanas.

Excavation of these sites will provide more physical evidence on history, administration, language, customs and traditions of our ancestors,’’ said P Chenna Reddy, Director of Archaeology and Museums Department.

Megasthenes is believed to have visited India as an Ambassador of Seleucus I of Syria to the court of Chandragupta Maurya around 305 BC.

In Indika, Megasthanes indicates that the Andhra (mentioned as Andarae) kings belonged to a powerful race and possessed an army of 100,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry, 1,000 elephants and had 30 well-built fortified towns.

With Telugu obtaining classical language status, the project assumes importance and is likely to give an insight into its origins and the historical existence of Andhras. The officials have so far examined 18 sites with historical importance and singled out five.

Archaeologists recovered bricks, pottery, coins and other evidence from these sites at Dhoolikatta, Kotilingala (both Karimnagar district), Satanikota (Kurnool district), Dharanikota (Amaravathi) and Bodhan (Nizamabad district).

The project was taken up in October, 2005 and efforts are on to identify the remaining Megasthanes towns in Andhra Pradesh as well as at a few places in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu. 

Courtesy: ExpressBuzz

'Telugu language has 4000-year history'

HYDERABAD: Telugu, which got classical language status, has a 4,000-year old history. This was revealed by a city-based author S Venugopal in his book titled 'Vishwa Vijetha' . 

Venugopal claimed that the word Telugu derived from 'Trikalinga.' Later it became 'Tenugu' and people in the Deccan plateau used to call it as 'Telanga' and now it has become 'Telugu' . In fact, historians found a word 'Telangana' near Jeedimetla (earlier Jeedimatta ) of Hyderabad city on stone inscriptions dating back to 13-14 AD. 

Interestingly, the original pronouncement of 'Telugu' is Tel and Agu. Tel means 'south corner.' A poet Sanganabhatla Narasaiah said that river Godavari was called as 'Telivaha' and Telinadi.' Gradually, Telinadi has become 'Telugu.' 

The word 'Telanga' is also used in the Mahabharata, Venugopal asserted. He claimed that during the Mahabharata time, Anga Desam was famous for female elephants . Anga means a female elephant. These elephants ate only 'Tala' trees. So these elephants were referred to as 'Tala Angadulu' and later became Tala Anga then Talanga and now Telugu.During King Harishchandra's regime, the Telugu language come into limelight , he added.

Courtesy: TOI

'Classical Status' : Celebrations galore

New Delhi (PTI): It was a double delight for Telugus across the country as their centuries-old language was conferred the classical language status on Saturday on the 53rd formation day of Andhra Pradesh.

State Governor N D Tiwari kick-started the three-day celebrations here this evening. He also congratulated the people from the state on the occasion of their language getting classical language status.

Speaking on the occasion, he recalled the vital role played by Sardar Vallabhai Patel in integrating the Hyderabad Province into India.

He also expressed confidence that the Telugus will continue to contribute their mite as proud citizens of the nation and for overall development of the country.

State Agriculture Minister Raghuveera Reddy and officials also participated in the celebrations in Andhra Bhavan here.

A photo exhibition on the achievements of the Congress government was also inaugurated on Saturday.

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HYDERABAD: Statements continued to pour in on Saturday too, hailing the decision of the Union government according a “classical language” status to Telugu.

Potti Sriramulu Telugu University organised “victory celebrations” with a meeting on its premises in the Public Garden here participated by different eminent scholars.

PSTU Vice-Chancellor A. Bhoomaiah said the recognition would help the language to keep up glorious past legacy and, at the same time, pave way for further efforts to develop it. Poet and former chairman, State Official Languages Commission C. Narayan Reddy said time had come to take up an action plan to take Telugu beyond the confines of Andhra Pradesh. Jetti A. Oliver, chairman, Telugu Vedantha Sahiti Samithi, contended that original writings in Telugu in the fields of science, technology and theology must be promoted to phase out avoidable translations and sought funds for this purpose by the government.

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HYDERABAD: Welcoming the decision to give Telugu and Kannada classical languages status, Dravidian University, Kuppam in a joint press statement on Saturday said that it was a victory of the Dravidian family of languages. The university also pointed out its role in getting the status for both the languages. The University had organised an important lecture by eminent historian Iravatham Mahadevan who established a close nexus between the Harappan Civilisation and Telugu language. Also, the CM Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy had emphasised the need to give classical status to Telugu at an Awards function organised by the Univeristy which honoured scholars who contributed their might for the development of the five Dravidian languages.

The University had also strongly voiced its concern to declare Kannada and Telugu as classical languages at a meeting organised by Krishna District Writers Association of the University held in June.

According to the press release, the University in its endeavour to achieve the same had worked very closely with reputed scholars like BH Krishnamurti, ABK Prasada etc. Vice-Chancellor of the University, Cuddapah Ramanaiah expressed his thanks to both the State and Central government for fulfilling the desire of people of both the states.

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Telugu film industry hails decision

HYDERABAD: The Telugu film industry has hailed the Central Government’s decision to accord classical language status to Telugu.

It is as a matter of pride for the entire Telugu community several organisations of the Telugu film industry opined.

In a joint statement issued here on Saturday, the Andhra Pradesh Film Chamber, Telugu Film Producers’ Council, Movie Artistes’ Association and Telugu Film Directors’ Association said that it was fitting that Telugu had been bestowed the honour in view of its history dating back to several centuries. K. S. Rama Rao, Tammareddi Bharadwaja, M. Murali Mohan and N. Shankar, belonging to the four organisations respectively, also lauded the contribution of former Chief Minister and TD leader late N.T. Rama Rao in spreading the greatness of Telugu community worldwide.

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Rajahmundry: Member of Parliament Vundavalli Aruna Kumar has said that according of classical language status for Telugu is a great honour for the people of Andhra Pradesh.

Speaking at a special function organised at Anam Kalakendram on Saturday, the MP said that it was a result of the concerted efforts made by the Telugu people at various levels.

This would help establish Telugu pithams in the country for development of the language.

MLA Routhu Surya Prakasa Rao hailed the Centre’s decision.

Kandula Durgesh, MLC, stressed the need for use of the language from primary level of education. K. Nirupa Rani, Vice-Chancellor of Adikavi Nannaya University, said that Telugu language was an ancient property given to this generation and it was a gift to the future generation.

The Vice-Chancellor appealed to the Telugu people to strive for the promotion of the language.

Endluri Sudhakar, professor, Telugu University, Karri Rama Reddy, neurologist, Viswanadha Gopalakrishna, scholar, S. Saibaba, DSP, M. Francis, Assistant Director, Information Department, and others attended the programme.

Earlier, Mr. Aruna Kumar, Mr. Surya Prakasa Rao, Mr. K. Durgesh and others garlanded the statue of Nannaya and the portrait of Potti Sriramulu.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Telugu gets official 'Classical Language' status

తెలుగుకు ప్రాచీన హోదా

కన్నడానికీ దక్కిన గుర్తింపు
రాష్ట్రావతరణకు కేంద్ర కానుక
మద్రాస్‌ కోర్టు తీర్పు తర్వాతే అమలు
మంత్రి అంబికా సోనీ వెల్లడి

న్యూఢిల్లీ, న్యూస్‌టుడే: తెలుగు, కన్నడ భాషలను ప్రాచీన భాషలుగా గుర్తిస్తున్నట్లు కేంద్ర ప్రభుత్వం ప్రకటించింది. శనివారం ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్‌, కర్ణాటక రాష్ట్రావతరణ దినోత్సవాల సందర్భంగా ఈ కానుక ప్రకటించినట్లు పేర్కొంది. అయితే భాషలకు ప్రాచీనహోదా కల్పించడానికి కేంద్రం నిర్దేశించిన అర్హతలపై భాషా నిపుణుల సంఘం సభ్యుడొకరు మద్రాస్‌ హైకోర్టులో దాఖలు చేసిన ప్రజాప్రయోజన వ్యాజ్యంపై వెలువడే తీర్పునకు లోబడే ఈ ఆదేశాలు అమలవుతాయని కేంద్ర పర్యాటక, సాంస్కృతిక శాఖ మంత్రి అంబికా సోనీ తెలిపారు.
కోర్టు తీర్పు వెలువడిన నాటి నుంచే ప్రాచీన హోదా అమల్లోకి వస్తుందని పేర్కొన్నారు. శుక్రవారం సాయంత్రం ఢిల్లీలో ఆమె విలేకరులతో మాట్లాడారు. ''కన్నడ, తెలుగులను ప్రాచీనభాషలుగా గుర్తించాలని కర్ణాటక, ఆంధ్రప్రదేశ్‌ ప్రజలు, రాజకీయ వర్గాల నుంచి మాకు అనేక వినతిపత్రాలు అందాయి. వీటన్నింటినీ భాషానిపుణుల సంఘానికి నివేదించాం. తాజాగా ఈ సంఘం తెలుగు, కన్నడాలను ప్రాచీన భాషలుగా గుర్తించవచ్చని సిఫారసు చేసింది. నవంబర్‌ 1న రెండు రాష్ట్రాల అవతరణ దినోత్సవాలను పురస్కరించుకొని వీటిని ప్రాచీన భాషలుగా గుర్తిస్తూ కేంద్రం నిర్ణయం తీసుకొంది. అయితే ఇది మద్రాస్‌ హైకోర్టులో పెండింగ్‌లో ఉన్న రిట్‌ పిటిషన్‌పై తీర్పునకు లోబడి ఉంటుంది. ఆ పిటిషన్‌ను కొట్టివేయాలని కోరుతూ కేంద్రం కోర్టును కూడా ఆశ్రయించింది'' అని వివరించారు. ఈ వ్యవహారంపై కోర్టు స్టే ఇవ్వకపోవడం వల్ల తాము ప్రకటన చేస్తున్నట్లు తెలిపారు. తొమ్మిది మంది సభ్యులున్న భాషా నిపుణుల కమిటీలో ఏడుగురు తెలుగు, కన్నడలకు ప్రాచీనహోదా కల్పించడానికి ఆమోదముద్ర వేయగా, ఒకరు వ్యతిరేకించారని సోనీ పేర్కొన్నారు. కేంద్రం నిర్దేశించిన 1500 ఏళ్ల చరిత్రను ఆధారంగా చేసుకొనే ప్రాచీనహోదా కల్పిస్తున్నట్లు చెప్పారు. ఈ నిర్ణయం వల్ల ఎంతమేర ఆర్థిక ప్రయోజనం కలుగుతుందో తనకు తెలియదనీ, అది తన శాఖ పరిధిలోకి రాదని ఆమె ఒక ప్రశ్నకు సమాధానంగా తెలిపారు. భాషా నిపుణులకు అంతర్జాతీయ స్థాయి పురస్కారాలు రావడానికీ, యూజీసీ, కేంద్ర విశ్వవిద్యాలయాల్లో విశిష్ట విద్యా కేంద్రాలను (సెంటర్‌ ఆఫ్‌ ఎక్స్‌లెన్స్‌) ఏర్పాటు చేసుకోడానికి అవకాశం ఉంటుందన్నారు. తెలుగు, కన్నడంతో కలిపి దేశంలో ఇప్పటి వరకు నాలుగు భాషాలకు ప్రాచీనహోదా లభించినట్త్లెందని పేర్కొన్నారు. ఇంతకుముందు సంస్కృతం, తమిళంలకు ఈ గుర్తింపు లభించింది.

కేబినెట్‌ చర్చించలేదు:

ప్రాచీనహోదా అంశంపై ఇంకా కేబినెట్‌లో చర్చించలేదని అంబికా సోనీ తెలిపారు. శనివారంలోగా కేబినెట్‌ సమావేశం జరిగే అవకాశం లేనందున ప్రధానమంత్రి ప్రత్యేక అనుమతితో ఈ ప్రకటన చేసినట్లు చెప్పారు. కేబినెట్‌ ఆమోదం తర్వాతే ఇది పార్లమెంటుకు వెళుతుందన్నారు. తెలుగుకు ప్రాచీన హోదాపై రాష్ట్ర టాస్క్‌ఫోర్స్‌ సభ్యుడు యార్లగడ్డ లక్ష్మీప్రసాద్‌ హర్షం వ్యక్తంచేశారు.

Courtesy: ఈనాడు

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Evidence collected to show that Telugu enjoyed a literary history of over 2,000 years

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: A.B.K. Prasad, Chairman of Official Language Commission, displaying a rare marble piece depicting the ancient Telugu literature.

HYDERABAD: The announcement by the Centre according classical status to Telugu climaxes four years of relentless efforts made by the State government, particularly the State Official Languages Commission (SOLC).

In the case of Telugu, the SOLC worked hard for several months to collect evidence to show that Telugu, indeed, enjoyed a literary history of over 2,000 years.

It delved into records and took photographs of several edicts as historical evidence and submitted the claim before the seven-member “Linguists’ Committee” of the Ministry of Culture.

The committee which has two Telugu experts as members -- Bh. Krishnamurthy, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Hyderabad, and K. V. Subba Rao of Delhi University -- first deferred its decision but finally had to yield, going by the list of evidences which included Bhattiprolu, Addanki and Dhannajaya edicts and ancient coins of Kotilingala and Singavaram.

YSR happy

Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy said Telugu was the sweetest and the best among the languages and expressed happiness that it had finally secured what was due to it a day before the State Formation Day. He thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Union Minister of Culture Ambika Soni for the decision.

A.B.K. Prasad, chairman, SOLC, who rushed to the Chief Minister soon after the announcement in New Delhi, said Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka too would get a grant of Rs 100 crore each to develop their respective languages.

‘Ultimate victory’

TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu described the classical status accorded to Telugu as the ultimate victory of Telugu people.

APCC president D. Srinivas hailed the decision, thanking the Prime Minister and the UPA chairperson for the gesture.

State CPI (M) secretary B.V. Raghavulu also welcomed the decision.

Political parties and literary organisations, including Lok Satta and Telangana Rachaithala Vedika, also welcomed the Centre’s decision.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Kannada, Andhra leaders demand classical language status for Kannada and Telugu

New Delhi, July 19 (ANI): Several ministers and leaders of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh on Saturday strongly pitched for conferring the Classical Language status for Kannada and Telugu languages at a seminar here.

It was organized by the Karnataka Sangha, the Hampi-based Kannada University, the Kannada Development Authority, the Dravidian University in Kuppam and P.S. Telugu University, Hyderabad.

Inaugurating the seminar, former Karnataka Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily said: All languages cannot be classified as classical languages but those which deserve it, cannot be denied the status.

To qualify for being declared as classical, a language should be ancient, should have an independent tradition, and must have a large and rich body of ancient literature, he added.

Moily pointed out that Tamil, Telugu, Malyalam, and Kannada languages had similar ancestry. Tamil was accorded the status of a classical language in 2004 and the same status cannot be denied to Kannada and Telugu, he said.

Moily, who is himself a well-known author in Kannada, having translated the Ramayana, said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had appointed a committee to examine the question of granting classical status to Kannada and Telugu. The Committee had met last month and would meet again in August.

Moily said that Kannada literature dated back to the pre-Christian period and the language had retained its identity even after being influenced by Sanskrit. Epic poems were inscribed on stones in Karnataka, he added.

Telugu, which was a twin Dravidian language, had a similar tradition and Moily wanted scholars from both states to coordinate their efforts to persuade the Government of India to grant classical language status for both Kannada and Telugu.

Karnatakas Minister of Higher Education, Aravinda Limbavali, who represents the Bharatiya Janata Party, said, We need not argue for the antiquity of these languages. The Bharatiya Janata Party in the State and the Congress in the Centre both national parties — will have to work together to get the classical status for the languages.

Mandali Buddha Prasad, a Minister in the Andhra Government, pointed out that Telugu and Kannada were sister languages. The Vijayanagara Kingdom of Krishnadevaraya included parts of present Karnataka and Andhra and both States should now coordinate efforts, he added. He said that it was a happy coincidence that Moily, who was a former Chief Minister of Karnataka, was in charge of party affairs for Andhra.

Ex-Vice Chancellor of Hyderabad University and the member of the expert committee Dr. Bh. Krishnamurthy highlighted the historical importance of Kannada and Telugu languages, which have a recorded history of 1500 to 2000 years.

He said, As far as academic arguments are concerned, we have enough evidence which prove the antiquity of these languages.

He also told reporters that the committee has already recommended that the languages be given their deserving status.

Vice Chancellor of the Dravidian University of Kuppam, Dr. G. Lakshminarayana said Telugu and Kannada were the senior most in the Dravidian family of languages. They rightfully deserved being given the status of classical languages.

Karnataka Sangha President Purushothama Bilimale said, The classical status would give international recognition to them and would also help getting Rs. 100 crore from the Center for the promotion of the languages. When we see that Tamil has been given the Classical language status and not the others, which are of same origin, then it hurts the sentiments of the people.

The seminar was also addressed by Mukyamantri Chandru, Chairman of the Kannada Development Authority, Prof. Krishnamurti, former Vice Chancellor of Hyderabad University, A.B. K. Prasad, Chairman of the Official language Commission, Hyderabad.

The seminar passed a resolution, signed by the participants, strongly urging the Union Government to declare Kannada and Telugu languages as classical languages immediately.

The resolution pointed out that there are Kannada and Telugu books on grammatical tradition, dictionaries, encyclopedias and books on science, agriculture and medicine. Both languages have written records dating from the First Millennium. (ANI)

Courtesy: ThaIndian

Delhi, July 19th : Seminar on Classical Status for Telugu and Kannada

New Delhi, July 16 (ANI): Delhi Karnataka Sangha is organizing a seminar on the Classical Status for Kannada and Telugu languages in the national capital on Saturday (July 19).

The day-long programme will be organised in association with the Kannada University Hampi, Dravidian University Kupppam, Potti Shriramula Telugu University Hyderabad and Kannada Development Authority Bangalore.

Former chief minister of Karnataka and senior Congress leader, M. Veerappa Moily and State minister for Higher Education, Aravinda Nimbavali are scheduled to attend the seminar to be held at R.K.Puram in South Delhi. The need for the seminar was felt after observing that linguistic identity in India was passing through a crisis period. Speech communities were seeking more space in the language politics of the country.

Languages, which are not included in the eighth schedule of the constitution of India, are putting forward their case for inclusion in the list.

Languages like Kannada and Telugu have stood the test of time. They were languages of the people in the first millennium and continued to be the media of expression in the new world.

However, due to political reasons, the Government of India could not declare these ancient languages as classical languages. he criteria prescribed to declare a particular language as 'the Classical Language' is that a language should be of great antiquity and should have its early texts dating back at least 1,000 years.

The language should also have a body of ancient literature and texts considered a valuable heritage. Its literary tradition should be original and not borrowed from another speech or community.

Besides, its literature must be distinct from modern etcetera are all holds good for a few other languages like Kannada and Telugu.

Other distinguished participants in the seminar will include chairman of the Kannada Development Authority in Bangalore, Mukhyamantri Chandru, State minister of Andhra Pradesh, Mandali Buddhaprasad, Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh official Language Commission A.B.K. Prasad and internationally recognized linguist Prof. Bh. Krishnamurty. They will present their views at the inaugural session.

Prof. D. Javare Gowda, former Vice Chancellor of the Mysore University, Dr. P.S. Subramaniam, Professor of Linguistics in Bangalore, Dr. S. Shettar noted Historian, Dr. Hampa Nagarajaiah, the Linguist and Researcher, Dr. Pradhan Gurudatt, the Chairman of Karnataka Translation Academy, Bangalore and Prof. H.S. Shivaprakash of the Jawaharlal Nehru University will be leading the panel discussion in the post lunch session.

Dr. Manjulata, Vice Chancellor of the P.S. Telugu University, Hyderabad will Chair the session. (ANI)

Courtesy: NewsTrackIndia

Classical Status

July 7: Telugu and Kannada may soon get classical language status. Union culture minister Ambika Soni on Monday said that a meeting of the experts committee for granting classical language status to Telugu and Kannada has been convened to meeting on August 8. Once the report is submitted to her, Ms Soni will forward it to the ministry of home affairs. This was revealed by Ms Soni when KPCC president M. Mallikarjuna Kharge, the head of the Karnataka Congress delegation, called on her.

During their meeting here, both leaders discussed matters related to granting classical language status to Kannada. Mr Kharge urged that the Centre should expedite the matter.

Courtesy: Howrah

Panel studying classical language status for Telugu, Kannada

New Delhi, June 19 (IANS) A committee of experts is examining whether to grant Telugu and Kannada the status of classical languages. Tourism Minister Ambika Soni conveyed this to visiting Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy here Thursday. During the half-hour meeting, Reddy urged Soni, who is also the culture minister, to grant classical language status to Telugu.

Soni said an experts committee is examining the issue of granting Telugu and Kannada classical languages status.

She said the majority of experts has formed a view and efforts are being made to arrive at a consensus on the issue.

She expressed the hope that the committee would reach a decision on the subject shortly and said it would be forwarded it to the government, according to an official statement issued here.

Courtesy: Thaindian

A.P. Languages Commission disagrees on inscription finding

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Official Languages Commission has stated that it was stunned by the “false picture” presented by Iravatham Mahadeven of the Indus Research Centre and Roja Muthiah Research Library, Chennai, about the earliest Telugu inscriptions.

In a rejoinder to Mr. Mahadevan’s statement published in The Hindu on April 30 under the heading ‘Andhra and the Indus civilisation,’ the Commission Chairman A. B. K. Prasad stated in a release here that litterateurs as well as the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) experts knew that both Tamil and Telugu languages were ancient with a culture of their own as leading members of the Dravidian family of languages, spread over a period of 2400 years and beyond.

‘Blatant distortion’

“But, Mahadevan’s contention that the earliest Telugu inscription is dated only in the 6th century A.D., in the post-Christian era, and also that the earliest Telugu literature in the 11th century C.E. is not only far from truth but also blatant distortion of the recorded facts.”

“It is regrettable that he [Mr. Mahadevan] should conveniently avoid mentioning of the most unassailable evidence of the earliest Bhattiprolu (Guntur district) inscriptions of 3rd century B.C. which contained several Telugu roots or words even a century before the Emperor Ashoka of 300 B.C. All the three inscriptions of Bhattiprolu dated back to 400 B.C. i.e. 2400 years ago! Likewise, the Telugu language found at Kantamanenivarigudem, Guntupalli in West Godavari district and Gummadidurru and Ghantasala in Krishna district, all dated back to 2nd century A.D.,” Mr. Prasad said.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Council seeks Classical Status for Telugu

Adopts resolution demanding recognition for 2,000-year-old epigraphical, historical evidences of language

TDP pressed demand as it feared the Centre was playing into the hands of DMK

Hopes pinned on crucial meet of sub-group of Union Ministry of Culture in Delhi on Feb.28

HYDERABAD: The State Legislative Council on Thursday adopted a unanimous resolution appealing to the Central Government to confer the status of classical language on Telugu.

The resolution, moved by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, urged the Centre to recognise the 2,000-year-old epigraphical, literary and historical evidences of Telugu. It should consider the distinct history of Telugu as a classical language.

Earlier, the Telugu Desam obstructed the proceedings of the House shouting slogans as they demanded the resolution to mark the International Mother Tongue Day declared by the United Nations. The question hour of the House was lost in the disturbance.

Charge against Centre

Initially, the State government wanted to move the resolution on Friday after perusing the resolution passed by the Legislative Assembly on the same request three years ago.

As the TDP remained adamant on the demand, Finance Minister K. Rosaiah sent for the Assembly resolution to draft the present document on the same lines. Leader of Opposition Dadi Veerabhadra Rao said the TDP pressed the demand as it feared the Centre was playing into the hands of the DMK which ‘conspired’ to see that only Tamil remained a classical language and Telugu did not earn that status.

He said the DMK was trying to get the eligibility norm for classical language tougher by proposing the 2,000 year rule.

Union Minister for Culture Ambika Soni even informed Parliament that there would be no relaxation in the criteria which was currently 1,500 years.

Optimism

Meanwhile, high hopes are pinned by the Government and the State Official Languages Commission on the crucial meeting of the sub-group of the Union Ministry of Culture taking place at Delhi on February 28 on the plea to accord classical status to it.

A positive outcome is expected from this meeting for three major reasons—strong epigraphical, literary and historical evidences provided by the Commission firmly establishing that Telugu existed even before Christ; the pressure mounted by the Chief Minister on the Prime Minister and the presence of Telugu-speaking members on the sub-group.

The stand taken by the Archaeological Survey of India, testifying whatever historical evidences cited by the commission on Telugu’s antiquity came as a moral booster.

One of the two Telugu members on the sub-group is Bhadriraju Krishnamurthy, former Vice-Chancellor, University of Hyderabad, who himself is a linguist.

The other member is K. Subba Rao who served Delhi University and is acclaimed as an authority on Telugu.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Grant Classical Status to Telugu : YSR

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Monday urged Union Minister for Tourism and Cultural Affairs Ambika Soni to take the initiative in facilitating the grant of classical language status to Telugu.

A press release said Dr. Reddy spent considerable time over the telephone talking to Ms. Soni and trying to impress upon her the necessity, especially considering the fact that a high-level meeting is convened in New Delhi on Wednesday.

He also told her that he had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on November 24, 2007 on the issue.

After Hindi, the number of Telugu-speaking people came second in the country. Telugus in India apart, the issue was also dear to an estimated 10 crore Telugu-speaking people living in different parts of the globe, the Chief Minister pointed out.

He told her that there is historical evidence to prove that Telugu enjoyed prominence among ancient Dravidian languages. Dr. Reddy also reminded Ms. Soni that an order issued by Union Ministry of Home Affairs in 2005 also made mention of the importance of Telugu, which has a history of over 1,000 years.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Kotalingala village faces threat from Yellampally

The site excavation holds key to pre-Sathavahana history

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There is no recorded history of early Andhra kings

Kotalingala coins prove antiquity of Telugu language

Hyderabad, December 12: Are we on the verge of losing a treasure trove of archaeological evidence to the early history of Andhra Kings whose territory extended up to Central India much before the well-documented Sathavahana period?

The answer could be an unfortunate ‘yes’ if Kotalingala village in Karimnagar district, with tell-tale evidences of archaeological proof that can throw more light about the pre-Sathavahana period, is submerged by Yellampally project. This, even before a proposed thorough investigation of site is taken up by the government.

Time is running out as the project is progressing well and the villagers are to be shifted to pave way for the work. Though the Archaeology Department carried out excavations in a haphazard manner during 1978 -83 which resulted in finding of 450 coins, gold beads, pottery, decorative art of pre-Sathavahana period, a report was published only last year.

But the much-needed resurvey and systematic excavation of the 120-acre site at Kotalingala with remnants of fort, stupa, ancient Siva temple, open wells and connecting channels to know more about pre-Sathavahana period, not documented anywhere, is still hanging fire.

Significant discovery

The discovery of the coins of pre-Sathavahana and Sathavahana period in 1978 is considered significant in the numismatics history of South India as for the first time it showed that the inscribed coins belonged to Gobada, first Andhra King who ruled from Kotalingala and others followed by Satavahana kings.

Gobada is acknowledged as the first king who issued inscribed coins in the Andhra region, says numismatist D.Raja Reddy who did extensive research and brought out several publications along with P.Suryanarayana Reddy giving a clear description of these coins.

There is no recorded history of early Andhra kings and the Puranas only talk about Sathavahanas, referred to as Andhra Bhruthyas, who actually succeeded Andhra Kings but it was never conclusively proved till the discovery of Kotilingala coins, Dr. Reddy explained.

Just as Nagarjuna Konda and Amaravathi were preserved for posterity as a mark of contribution of Ikshvakus, who ruled a small territory in Krishna delta only for 100 years, Kotilingala fort site, the place from where Sathavahanas ruled up to Gwalior, comprising half of India at one time, should be preserved and protected.

The excavation could throw up valuable inputs just like Harappan excavations, Dr. Reddy says. Kotalingala coins also came handy in proving the antiquity of Telugu in comparison to other Dravidian languages and the government has also published a book on it written by Dr. Reddy.

Courtesy: The Hindu

CM renews plea for classical status to Telugu

Telugu antiquity dates back to 2000 years

“Largest spoken language next to Hindi”

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HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Saturday dashed off yet another letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh renewing the State’s plea for according “classical language” status to Telugu. He said “nothing short of this will do justice to the sentiments of Andhra Pradesh people”. Any laxity in this respect might be construed as ignoring the sentiments. He requested Dr. Singh to consider the far-reaching implications of this burning issue and expedite the process.

Referring to the eligibility criteria, specified by the Home Ministry to get the classical status such as “a high antiquity of early texts/recorded history of over 1,000 years”, the Chief Minister said records suggested that Telugu antiquity dated back to more than 2,000 years.

He said “agonising delay” in according status to Telugu is causing heartburn to over 10 crore Telugu-speaking people in the world today. “Telugu is the largest spoken language in the country, next only to Hindi,” he added. He told the Prime Minister that the numismatic, scriptural and epigraphical evidences dating back to the second and third century BC and from 4th to 6th century AD clearly established Telugu as one of the oldest Dravidian languages. He said literary giants praised Telugu for its beauty and mellifluousness. Indira Gandhi specified Telugu as “one of the oldest languages spoken by large number of people. Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran observed that Telugu grew along with Tamil.

“Sundara Telugu”

Tamil poet Subramanya Bharatiyar admired it as “Sundara Telugu”. And celebrated French linguist Daniel Negers observed that French and Telugu had a lot of commonalities, but while French grew into an international language, Telugu remained confined to a small corner.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Proof to claim classical status for Telugu

The ఆంద్రు (andru) in Andhra had Dravidian roots, says expert

Definite link between ancient Andhra and Harappa civilizations

Dravidian roots quite visible in the Indus Valley script, says Mahadevan

HYDERABAD: The AP Official Languages Commission has cited yet another evidence to claim classical language status for Telugu.

This is a recent observation by Iravatham Mahadevan, an authority on Indus Valley civilization, that there was a definite link between ancient Andhra and Harappa civilizations.

Mr. Mahadevan, a retired IAS officer, presented a paper on “Dravidian roots in Indus Civilization” at a conference held recently at Kuppam in connection with the 10th convocation of Dravidian University. He reasoned that the “andru” in Andhra sound, had Dravidian roots.

According to press note issued by the commission here on Thursday, he contended that though the Indus Valley script had not been fully deciphered in spite of continuous research, Dravidian roots were quite visible in the Indus Valley script. The conference was chaired by the university Vice-Chancellor G. Lakshminarayana and attended by the commission chairman A. B. K. Prasad.

Mr. Mahadevan said there was tremendous influence of Dravidian roots on all Indo-Aryan languages, especially those spoken in northern India. He demonstrated 400 to 450 symbols of Indus Valley script found on jars, terracotta and arrows etc. He said the word “ambu” carried the same meaning (arrow) in Telugu, Kannada and Tamil.
Serving as base

He concluded that the Dravidian languages served Indus Valley language as the base.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Studies in Telugu language slack, says Buddha Prasad

GUNTUR: Studies in Telugu language are not going on at expected lines, Minister for Animal Husbandry Mandali Buddha Prasad has said. He laid the foundation-stone for an administrative block, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 6.21 crore, on the campus of Acharya Nagarjuna University on Friday.

University Vice- Chancellor V Balamohan Das laid the foundation for an open auditorium in the university.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said though the demand for classical status to Telugu was forthcoming from all quarters, Telugu departments were showing little interest to come up with evidence to prove that Telugu was an ancient language.

On the other hand, Tamils strained their every nerve to get classical status to their language whereas our researchers and Telugu language lovers were not keen as their counterparts in Tamil Nadu did. If the situation continued, Telugu may lose its sheen and finally its existence, the minister added.

If Nannayya had written the Mahabharata in Telugu, the language might have flourished evidence to substantiate our demand for ancient status to Telugu, Prasad observed.

ANU was catering to the educational needs of Guntur and Krishna districts. There was a need to set up another university in Krishna district, he said and added that Chief Minister

Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s ambition was to set up a university in every district. MLC Rayapati Srinivas said that after Balamohan Das took over the reins of the university, it was equipped with good infrastructure.

Balamohan Das said that many new buildings were coming up on the campus to provide all facilities to the students.

The open auditorium to come with Rs 1.5 crore would have a student facility centre, he added. YOUTH FEST: A three-day youth festival would be organised in ANU from October 27, said university students affairs coordinator N Samuel. Students from 406 colleges under the university purview would take part in the festival.

The winners of the festival would participate in the inter-varsity youth festival to be held at Padmavati Mahila University at Tirupati from November 12 to 16, he added.

Courtesy: NewIndPress

Telugu Meet: Resolution demands national policy on languages

Vijayawada, Sept. 25 (PTI): On the concluding day of three-day World Telugu Meet a resolution was passed demanding classical status to Telugu and announce a national policy on languages.

The meet also felt there was a need to encourage Telugu medium schools by improving infrastructure and the state government withdrawing the proposal of converting them into English medium schools.

Other resolutions passed in the meeting yesterday include primary education should be in mother tongue and opportunity should be given to students to select the medium of education from Class VI onwards, revival of Andhra Pradesh Sahitya Academy, making general Telugu paper mandatory in the Group One and Group Two examinations conducted by the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission, encouraging Telugu literary works, research works and a special ministry to protect and improve the language were the other resolutions.

Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, who was the chief guest at the valedictory session lauded the Krishna District Writers Association for conducting the meet.

Expressing concern over the present status of the language he stressed the need to take necessary steps to protect the language.

Animal Husbandary Minister Mandali Buddha Prasad and number of others spoke on the present status of Telugu language.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Writers press for classical status to Telugu

Getting acquainted: Governor N.D. Tiwari greeting delegates at the three-day World Telugu Writers Conference that began in Vijayawada on Friday.

VIJAYAWADA: A three-day World Telugu Writers’ Conference began here on Saturday, with Jnanpeeth awardee C. Narayana Reddy suggesting that the conference pass a resolution demanding the Centre to accord classical language status to Telugu. Dr. Reddy felt that such a resolution would give a fillip to the ongoing efforts in this direction.

Without going into the specific demand, Governor Narayan Dutt Tiwari, who was the chief guest, noted that Telugu has been in existence for more than 2,000 years. “It is one of our oldest languages and is spoken by a very large number of people. Its literature is known for its aesthetic and spiritual richness.”

Mr. Tiwari opined that Telugu could be compared to French and Italian. Calling it a “musical language”, he observed that the language had a great tradition, which would have to be preserved for the posterity. “Telugu writers have to bear the torch and lead the movement to protect their mother tongue,” he remarked.

The Governor suggested to Telugu writers to redefine their objectives and strive for another cultural renaissance. Their writings should be filled with patriotism and depict glorious cultural heritage of India. He generously quoted from Gurazada Appa Rao’s poem దేశ భక్తి (Desa Bhakti) amidst a big round of applause and recalled that Viswanatha Satyanarayana’s రామాయణ కల్పవృక్షం (Ramayana Kalpavriksham) had got worldwide recognition as it was written in a fascinating and unique style. He termed Viswambhara of Dr. Narayana Reddy “a magnificent modern poetry”.

Dr. Narayana Reddy rejected the argument that Telugu was not suitable for official correspondence. He said the Official Language Commission had prepared many dictionaries and translated a good number of English words used in official correspondence into Telugu.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Coins boost Telugu’s ancient status

New evidence in the form of coins suggests the existence of Telugu kingdoms ahead of the Satavahanas in the pre-Christian world

Punch marked coins traced from Kotalingala in Karimnagar district

HYDERABAD: Epigraphic evidence could not help the ‘Telugu cause’ all these years. Quotes from the Puranas did not succeed in establishing the ‘age’ of the language and Telugu continues to be denied the ‘classical language’ status.

However, fresh evidence to support the claim has been unearthed and that could prove the existence of Telugu kingdoms ahead of the Satavahanas in the pre-Christian world.

The Andhra Pradesh Official Language Commission has thrown new light that substantiates the argument that Telugu deserves the status of classical language.

This one pertains to a study of the punch marked coins traced from Kotalingala in Karimnagar district and Singavaram in Krishna district done by D. Raja Reddy whose meticulous work over the years is well acknowledged.

The general belief was that the earliest proof of Telugu could be traced to the ‘Satavahana period’ and that ‘Chimukha Satavahana’ was the founder of the Satahavana empire in the South after the fall of the Mauryan empire.

However, the discovery of Kotalingala coins from the ‘Assaka’ region (as Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Adilabad area was known during the period of ‘Janapadas’) now proves beyond doubt that the Satavahana kings were only successors of ‘Gobada, Narana, Kamvaaya and Samagopa’ kings belonging to 7th and 3rd century BC.

The latest discovery should strengthen the cause of Telugus, says the chairman of the Official Language Commission, A. B. K. Prasad.

Courtesy: The Hindu