Nannaya impediment for classical language status to Telugu?

Those opposing the move point to the ‘Adikavi’ title conferred on Nannaya, for giving credence to their claim that Telugu is less than 1,000 years old

Nannaya

HYDERABAD: There may be several reasons for the delay in according classical language status to Telugu. And one will surely be surprised if ఆదికవి (Adikavi) (the first poet) title conferred on Nannaya, who is said to have commenced translation of the epic Mahabharata into Telugu, has become one of the impediments.

But this is true, going by the State Official Language Commission Chairman A.B.K. Prasad. It is mandatory for a language to have written texts in existence for at least 1,000 years for securing classical language status.

Those opposing this status to Telugu are now pointing to the ‘Adikavi’ title conferred on Nannaya, the 11th century poet, for giving credence to their claim that Telugu is less than 1,000 years old.

“It is difficult to pinpoint the exact date of origin of a language and the conferment of the title on Nannaya appears to have become their own fault.

Excavations

Classical language status is being denied to Telugu despite archaeological excavations at Kotilingala and other places revealing coins more than 2,200 years old, bearing the traces of language in its evolutionary stages,” Mr. Prasad said.

He was participating in a round table on classical language status to Telugu organised by the CPI State council here on Wednesday.

Speakers including CPI MP Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy, BJP State general secretary K. Lakshman, CPI (M) representative T. Ravi, Potti Sriramulu Telugu University Vice-Chancellor A. Manjulata and others expressed concern over the delay in according classical language status to Telugu and wanted political parties other organisations to emulate Tamil Nadu to put up a united struggle and mount pressure on the Centre.

Courtesy: The Hindu