Nearly 200 spoken languages in K'taka endangered: KDA chairman

NT Correspondent

Mysuru: Kannada Development Authority chairman Purushottam Bilimale said that nearly 200 languages which were spoken by people of Karnataka including tribals and indigenous people living in the thick jungles of the state are identified as critically endangered. He was speaking after inaugurating the six-day Niranthara Rangotsav, a theatre festival which began at the Rangayana premises in Mysuru here on Thursday night. The state has identified 230 spoken languages across Karnataka. Languages spoken by tribal communities like Koraga, Badaga, Yerava, Irula, Soliga, Gouli, Jenukuruba and Bettakuruba are identified as potentially endangered languages in the state.

Most of the spoken languages without any script are dying, he said Only three percent of the population of the country speak Kannada, while 66 per cent speak Hindi, he said. He also appreciated the medium of theatre saying it unites people of all faiths and brings all people together irrespective of sex, colour and linguistic identities.

Speaking on the same occasion, executive director of Concerned for Working Children which has been thrice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, Kavitha Ratna remembered the contributions of her late father, veteran theatre personality Na Rathna, in educating society about the importance of rainwater harvesting, promotion of literacy and removal of untouchability.