Nayana J C

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Nov 1: Different states, different mother tongues, but one common language bringing everyone together. At the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Higher Primary School at Sandspit in Bengre, Mangaluru, children from different parts of the country are discovering the beauty of Kannada, proving that language can be a bridge that connects people beyond geographical and cultural boundaries.

Students from Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat and several other states are pursuing their education at the school. Interestingly, most of these children had little or no knowledge of Kannada when they first joined. Today, thanks to the consistent efforts of their teachers, interaction with classmates and various school activities, they can confidently speak, read and write the language.

For Padma, a class 6 student originally from Andhra Pradesh, learning Kannada has been a memorable experience. "Our teachers taught us Kannada very well, which is why I can speak the language now. We speak Hindi at home, but my parents do not know Kannada," she said.

Another student from Andhra Pradesh shared how her teachers and friends helped her learn the language. "My teachers and friends taught me Kannada. I can also write in Kannada and sing Kannada songs. At home, we speak Telugu," she said.

Adushi, a student originally from Bihar, has also picked up Kannada. "Only my brother, sister and I know Kannada at home. My parents do not know the language," she shared.

Behind this transformation is the dedicated effort of the teachers, who have adopted creative methods to make language learning easier and enjoyable.

Assistant teacher Suma said children from different linguistic backgrounds initially find Kannada difficult when they join the school. However, teachers use activities such as drama, role-play and other interactive methods to help them become familiar with the language.

"Within one or two years, most children learn to speak, read and write Kannada fluently. This also helps them communicate easily with other students. We encourage them to regularly practise at home what they learn in school. We even call their homes early in the morning and remind them to study," she explained.

Headmistress Umalakshmi K said children gradually develop their reading and writing skills while also actively participating in extracurricular activities.

"Children learn the basics of reading and writing after joining the school and gradually develop the ability to speak Kannada. Admission from class 1 makes the learning process easier. When children join in higher classes, it can be slightly challenging initially. However, they quickly pick up the language and develop the ability to read," she said.

She added that the children participate enthusiastically in various activities and learn alongside one another, regardless of their backgrounds.

"When we see all the children together, it is difficult to identify who belongs to Karnataka and who has come from another state," she said.

More than just a language what makes this school special is not merely the fact that children from different states are learning Kannada, but how they are growing together without distinctions of language, region or background.

For these young students, Kannada is no longer just another subject in the classroom. It has become a language of friendship, communication and belonging.

At Sandspit, the classroom is a beautiful example of India's diversity, where children may speak different languages at home, but come together through one common language — Kannada.