Mysuru: Emphasising the need to preserve Kannada language, noted academic and writer Prof Chidananda Murthy on Friday said, “Kannada language has a history of its own, and there is a need to preserve and develop it.”Prof Murthy, who participated in the Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations organised by the Central Institute of Indian Languages, said that, “It was during the reign of the Kadamba dynasty that a Kannada identity emerged, and so did pride in the language. The Kadamba king Mayura Varma fought the Pallavas and established the Kannada kingdom. Mayura, who was oppressed by the Pallavas, came to this land, and established the Kannada kingdom. The language flourished greatly under the Kadamba kings, and subsequently became the administrative language of the land.”Prof Murthy and Prof TV Venkatachala Shastry were honoured with the Classical Kannada award on the occasion.Pointing out that Maharashtra was once a part of the erstwhile Kannada kingdom, the scholar added, “As it is recorded in king Amoghavarsha’s poem, ‘Kavirajamarga’, the Kannada kingdom stretched from River Godavari in Nasik to Cauvery. One could once find Kannada-speaking people in Mumbai. Even Balagangadhar Tilak once said that Kannada had been the mother tongue of the people once living in Maharashtra.”On his lasting connection with Mysuru city, Prof Murthy said that it held a special place in his heart since it was here that he had been fortunate enough to be taught by Poet Laureate Kuvempu, and other eminent personages such as DL Narasimhachar and TN Shrikantaiah.On the other hand, Prof Shastry lamented the lack of recognition for deserving Kannada writers. “Also, recently, Kannada literature is on the decline. There is no need to study ancient grammar to understand the original structure of Kannada language,” he added.Dollukunita and Veeragase performances added a topical flavour to the celebrations.CIIL director Prof DG Rao, and head of the Centre for Excellence in Classical Kannada L Ramamoorty and Prof Durgadas were present.

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