Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Oct 4: The Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy celebrated Beary Language Day at at TV Raman Pai hall here on Saturday October 3.

The event was inaugurated by former higher education minister B A Mohiuddin.

Addressing the gathering, Sathyanarayana Mallipatna, former principal of University College, Mangaluru said, "There are thousands of languages in the world, but no one knows the exact number. It is estimated that there are 7,000 languages. UNESCO has said that an estimated 2,500 languages are on the verge of extinct, but we cannot agree on everything that UNESCO says.

"A language can grow more easily when it gets government support. After Tulu Academy was started, Tulu language grew a lot, and similarly, after Beary Academy was formed, Beary language has grown. According to me, no language grows, instead it extends. A person can survive with one language. I have seen such people and they are living happily. There is a notion that language gains importance only if it has a script, but that is also not true. English has no script of its own, but it has grown and rules the world, and that is because people have made it famous. People are responsible for any language to grow. Only by speaking can a language grow. Language is closely associated with culture. Our language and culture need to be protected. It is not what we have benefited but what we preserve for our future generation that is more important. So let us all preserve and protect our language and culture," he said.

J R Lobo, MLA Mangaluru South said, "Mangaluru has the highest number of academies after Bengaluru. Language is not only a medium of speaking, but there is culture inherent in it. Protecting and promoting our language is very important. We should show regard and love towards our language. But wrong love towards the language is not good. We should respect every language, while respecting our language a little more. People of this land fulfill responsibilities given to them in an efficient manner and Beary Academy has done that. I congratulate them on this celebration."

Ramanath Rai, district in charge minister said, "Beary Academy has been doing very good work. Elders have said if a languge is not spoken, it will get destroyed. It is true to an extent. There is a need to promote languages. This needs to be done by the acadamies. By doing this we can promote our culture too. I congratulate Karnataka Beary Academy on organizing such a nice programme and wish them all success."

Achievers in the field of Beary literature and those from non-Beary communities who speak the Beary language were felicitated on the occasion.

A collection of short stories written by Fakruddin Iruvail, Kirfa was released by district incharge minister.

Karnataka Beary Academy president Mohammed Haneef, MLC Ivan D'Souza, MLA Mohiuddin Bava, Konkani Sahithya Academy president Roy Castelino, Tulu Sahitya Academy president Janaki Bramhavar, MUDA chairman Kodijaal Ibrahim and others were present.