Venkaiah Naidu Urges Creative Efforts To Promote Telugu Among Future Generations
The former Vice President urged people not to lament about the decline of the mother tongue, but instead work to spread it. He called for creative methods to teach Telugu to students, including through playful and engaging approaches.
TIRUPATI: Former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu has called upon the Telugu language enthusiasts and scholars to explore innovative ways to bring the sweetness of the mother tongue closer to future generations while also modernising it.
Speaking at the inauguration of the three-day Telugu Language Festival on the occasion of Telugu Language Day and the birth anniversary of Gidugu Venkata Ramamurthy at the Town Hall in Nellore, Naidu said it was not enough to simply call Telugu an ancient, rich and beautiful language, but every Telugu-speaking person must contribute to passing on its essence to the next generations.
Referring to the pioneering efforts of Ramamurthy, who championed the use of spoken language, Naidu said the same spirit should guide the preservation and promotion of Telugu today. He stressed that spoken language should expand along with making ancient literature accessible to all.
The former Vice President urged people not to lament about the decline of the mother tongue, but instead work to spread it. He called for creative methods to teach Telugu to students, including through playful and engaging approaches. He said parents and language lovers should take the lead in introducing children to both formal and practical Telugu.
Highlighting the need to use technology, he encouraged increased application of Telugu in computers to attract the youth and suggested efforts to revive interest in traditional Telugu script. He recommended giving Telugu books as gifts on occasions like weddings and festivals, and encouraging children to celebrate birthdays and functions in traditional ways.
Quoting Ramamurthy’s words that language, like people, must evolve with time, Naidu said Telugu should adapt to science and technology while retaining its identity. He said that safeguarding and elevating the Telugu language would be the true tribute to Ramamurthy.
Expressing concern that discussions on protecting Telugu had become necessary in its own homeland, Naidu said education at the primary level must be in the mother tongue, and even higher education should have greater use of regional languages. He underlined that people’s opinions should reach the government in their mother tongue and the government communication with the public should also be in the same language. Judicial proceedings and judgments, he suggested, should also move towards being available in Telugu.
Padma Shri awardee Acharya Kolakaluri Enoch, former additional director general of Prasar Bharati Dr Revuru Anantha Padmanabha Rao, Seva president Kancherla Subbanayudu, along with several scholars, students and language enthusiasts participated in the programme.
The programme was organised by Seva – Telugu Language, Literary and Cultural Organisation.
