Stephan Kayyar
Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod
Kasargod, Nov 2: Even as Karnataka was celebrating Kannada Rajyotsava on Wednesday November 1, anti-Kannada activists, in a deplorable act, scrawled slogans against Kannada in a college here. The incident once again brought to light the tension over language prevailing on the Karnataka-Kerala border.
When the students, teachers and other staff arrived at college on Wednesday morning, they found anti-Kannada graffiti on the walls and doors of the college, especially near the Kannada department.
'Banish Kannada from here, this is Malayalam region', 'November 1 is Kerala Paravi, not Kannada Rajyotsava', 'Kerala always number 1, always ahead', 'Malayalam is our mother tongue', 'We are Mallus, Malayalam is God's own language' were some of the graffiti writings in Malayalam found on the walls.
Offended by the act, Kannada student organization 'Sneha Ranga' staged a flash protest outside the principal's office. Even as the protest was going on, some Malayali students approached the protestors and a war of words ensued, which soon threatened to snowball into a brawl.
Vidyanagar police on receiving information rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.
The Kannada speakers who form the linguistic minority in border areas like Kasargod have for long been facing injustice and undue pressure, as they neither belong to Karnataka nor are they assimilated into Kerala.
On Wednesday morning, the students were shocked to see anti-Kannada writings scribbled on the walls near the Kannada department. The Kannada students who said they were repeatedly being insulted by their Malayali counterparts decided to protest, led by 'Sneha Ranga' Kannada literary and cultural group. They protestors also held a rally within the campus.
The Kannada students called for an end to the discrimination allegedly meted out to them by Malayalis in the college. "It is distressing that while Kerala and Karnataka both celebrate formation day on the same date (November 1), Malayali students are insulting us in the college," they said.
It is alleged that despite the protest and the seriousness of the matter, college principal Dr Aravind Krishnan did not take any immediate action. Later in the afternoon, he inspected the writings in the presence of the police. He had participated in the Kerala formation day celebrations in the morning, after which he remained in his chamber till afternoon, even as the protest was going on outside his office, it is said.
Moreover, the principal allegedly rejected the Kannada students' appeal, written in Kannada, seeking permission to hold a formal protest in the college. The police who looked at the appeal told the students that they do not known Kannada, and asked them to write it in English or Malayalam. The students then wrote the appeal in English. However, the principal rejected the English version too, it is alleged.
When the students refused to leave even till around 1 pm, the officials of the college told them to vacate the premises. The students were reportedly taken to task as their protest had already been reported in the local media by then.
It is learnt that as soon as the Kannada students began their protest, the principal informed the Vidyanagar police and asked them to provide security to the college. The police allegedly told the students to stop shouting slogans or face arrest. The students, however, did not budge and kept up their demands.
The police assured the protestors that the culprits behind the graffiti would be arrested within 20 days. The students warned that if the police fail to do so, they would hold intense protests.
'Sneha Ranga' president Balakrishna Belinje, secretary Sushmitha Shetty, editor of 'Kannada Dhwani' Sujith Kumar Chavar and members of 'Sneha Ranga' participated in the protest.