Kannada-English should go hand in hand
Many thinkers, writers and literatures have taken to streets protesting against the government decision to open English medium schools. It is rather significant to note that this protest is supported and endorsed by former 'bandaya’ (rebel) writers and noted writer SL Bhyrappa. Their apprehension is that if government starts English medium schools. Kannada would be lost forever. But it is rather appropriate to ask this question about the schools where their kids and grandkids are getting their education.
The answer to this question would be rather very disappointing. No one is doubting their love for Kannada. And their protests may not save any Kannada schools, is a hard fact.
Kannada medium in today's Karnataka is like a worn off dress used and discarded by upper caste and affluent people. For a simple reason that they are studying in Government schools people are forced to wear the same tattered dress. We also need to note that Kannada schools are closing down one by one in the recent times. Sub quality of education is not the only contributing factor to this.
The middle class and the lower middle class people, having realised the value of English based education, are refusing to send their children to Kannada medium schools.
Only those families that can ill afford to send their children to private schools are sending their wards to government schools. These children are ideal Guinea pigs for lab experiments for our writers.
None of them even spared a thought to see why over 3000 Kannada schools closed down in the past in the state, what could be the reasons for this, why the number of students is dwindling in these schools, why parents are not admitting their children here and how that can be rectified through dialogue with the government.
What happens with government schools close down? People from lower economic background and backward castes lose the lone opportunity to access education forever. Government English medium schools present these kids with two opportunities. They not only get education free of cost, along with that they also get the knowledge of English that will help them access better opportunities in life. They can then stand on par with kids who study in private schools.
This is what worries people like Bhyrappa who come from privileged brahminical background when they oppose thoughts such as this. How would it make any difference whether government schools teach in English or Kannada medium when the existence of these very schools is in a quandary?
We need to support these English medium schools at least on experimental basis. We need not take words of these lofty idealistic people who are not concerned about the future of lakhs of children. We need to work on saving government schools. If government schools can survive and work by teaching English, we must support that shift. Along with this, we also need to find a way to save Kannada for future. Today's situation is that we need to incorporate the enticement towards English to save Kannada.
In the past, writer Anantha Murthy had said in his speech of a Kannada conference chair that today we need to find ways to ensure Kannada and English co exist for better future. Today, in other English schools, Kannada is being ignored totally, hence the new generation stands very far from Kannada.
If this continues, a generation of Kannada speaking people may come to an end in the next two decades. Private schools thrive on the fear of parents who feel English is inevitable for a better future of their children. We need to use the same strategy to push English into government schools and save them.
Along with Kannada, we also need to teach English from primary classes to kids. This way, Kannada inevitably has to ride the shoulder of English. We cannot operate anywhere in banks or Courts, government offices or new businesses such as IT and BT without English. Having made English this inevitable, to say that the poor needn't learn English would be the selfishness of a particular privileged category.
If these writers and thinkers feel English should not enter the education scenario in government schools, let them take up the fight for nationalisation of education itself. If not, the gap between the quality of education for the rich and poor will widen with every passing day. It will push the lower caste into darkness and lift the rich to better life. Hence if English is indeed inevitable, it is better to implement it thoughtfully than to live in denial about it.
Let Kannada March ahead using English as its vehicle. A student, who is educated in a govt school to communicate in both languages, can compete very confidently with convent educated students. He or she would be a lot more creative and rational in his approach. The government should never hesitate from its decision to implement English. At the same time, the government should ensure Kannada is also given equal emphasis in the meantime.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
