Hyderabad, November 15: Underlining the importance and culture of the Telugu language, Andhra Saaraswata Parishad president and Jnanpeeth awardee C Narayana Reddy has appealed to the state government to use Telugu while issuing orders and promote use of the language in all government departments and private firms in the state.
Speaking at the inaugural of Telugu Bhasha Sahitya Sammelanam organised by the Parishad at the Devulapalli Ramanuja Rao Auditorium here today, the renowned poet lamented that most of the people, who were born and grew up in the state, were not keen on speaking in Telugu.
Besides, a number of private educational institutions were luring parents with various programmes for their children to learn English.
“We are not against people speaking in English or any other language to communicate with others. But we should not neglect conversing with fellow Telugu people in the mother tongue,’’ Reddy said and announced that the Andhra Saaraswata Parishad would prepare a comprehensive report and submit it to the state government to strictly enforce use of Telugu in all government departments and private firms.
“There are a number of Telugu TV channels which broadcast news, news-based stories and other bulletins but they fail to maintain good standards in pronunciation of Telugu. Besides, most TV anchors are using more English than Telugu words. The vernacular newspapers too are failing to use the right words while reporting news. “Media managements should take care to do justice to the classical status of Telugu in news articles,” he said KV Ramanachary, principal secretary (endowments) said that even as Telugu was given a classical status by the government, they failed to do anything to develop the language. “The latest decision by the government to introduce teaching of English in all government schools from Class I will badly affect the pronunciation of Telugu. This is the right time to preserve our language which has great cultural significance,” he said.
The sammelanam reviewed the use of Telugu language in the media, administration and education.
Elluri Siva Reddy, general secretary of the Parishad, said the Union government has agreed to release a commemorative postage stamp on writer Tripuraneni Gopichand.
Replying to a letter written by Narayana Reddy, Union minister for information technology A Raja consented to release the stamp on the occasion of Gopichand’s birth anniversary on September 8, 2011, he revealed.
State Cultural Council president RV Ramanamurthy, Andhra Saaraswata Parishad joint secretary Chennaiah, teachers, representatives of various organisations attended the meeting.
–Agencies