Regional languages enrich Kannada, says CM Siddaramaiah at Arebhashe Academy awards
Bengaluru: Kannada is the foundation of Karnataka’s identity, and regional languages like Arebhashe have only enriched it, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Friday. He was speaking after inaugurating the 2024 Arebhashe Academy Honour Awards organised by the Department of Kannada and Culture and the Karnataka Arebhashe Culture and Literature Academy at Ravindra Kalakshetra.
The Chief Minister noted that Arebhashe-speaking Gowdas largely reside in Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu districts, with a population of over three lakh. He recalled historical references from the 1882 Gazette, which mention the community’s movement from Sakleshpur to Sullia during a drought when the Hemavathi River had dried up. Over time, a mix of Tulu, Konkani and Kannada gave rise to Arebhashe, he said. Words like vone for ‘I am going’ and bane for ‘I am coming’ reflect how some sounds were dropped, shaping the dialect. He emphasised that the community, originally from the Gowda fold, carries a distinct cultural identity.
Siddaramaiah remembered his acquaintance with Kurunji Venkataramanagowda, an Arebhashe speaker, and pointed out that Karnataka has around 230 minor languages and dialects, all linked in some way to Kannada. He urged the academy to continue its efforts to preserve and promote Arebhashe.
Referring to earlier support extended to the Nadagowda community in parts of the coastal belt, he said one crore rupees had been released in the past, and the current request for 50 lakh rupees would be met. Other demands would be reviewed and resolved, he assured. He also said that a proposal to allocate land for Arebhashe Gowdas in Madikeri would be placed before the next cabinet meeting.
The Chief Minister congratulated K.R. Gandadhara, U.P. Shivananda and D.S. Anand, who received this year’s Arebhashe Academy Honour Awards.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Minister Byrathi Suresh, legislators, CM’s legal adviser Ponnanna, MLA Acharna Gowda, Kannada Development Authority chairman Purushottama Bilimale, Arebhashe Academy chairman Sadananda Maviji and Kannada and Culture Department director Gayatri were present.
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.
Russian military hardware, spare parts for Indian military to be manufactured in India
New Delhi (PTI): Russia agreed to encourage joint manufacturing in India of military hardware and spare parts for maintenance of Russian-origin arms and defence equipment.
Ways to bolster overall bilateral defence cooperation figured prominently during summit talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.
It has been a long-standing grievance of armed forces that the supply of critical spares and equipment from Russia takes a long time, affecting the maintenance of military systems procured from that country.
"Both sides agreed to encourage joint manufacturing in India of spare parts, components, aggregates and other products for maintenance of Russian origin arms and defence equipment under Make-in-India programme through transfer of technology," a joint statement said.
ALSO READ: India, Russia explore cooperation on small modular reactors, floating nuclear power plants
It said both sides also agreed to set up joint ventures for meeting the needs of the Indian armed forces as well as subsequent export to mutually friendly third countries.
The joint statement said the India-Russia defence partnership is being reoriented to take up joint co-development and co-production of advanced defence technology and systems.
In their meeting on Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Russian counterpart Andrey Belousov resolved to expand bilateral defence cooperation.
In the meeting, the Indian side showed keen interest in procurement of additional batches of S-400 missile systems from Moscow to bolster its combat prowess.
In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defence missile systems, notwithstanding a warning by the US that going ahead with the contract may invite US sanctions under the provisions of Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Three squadrons have already been delivered.
The S-400 systems played a crucial role during Operation Sindoor. India may also look at procuring the S-500 missile systems from Russia.
In the Modi-Putin talks, the two sides also agreed to continue jointly developing systems of bilateral trade settlements through the use of national currencies.
Additionally, the two sides agreed to continue their consultations on enabling the interoperability of the national payment systems, financial messaging systems, as well as central bank digital currency platforms.
Modi and Putin appreciated the ongoing intensification of the joint work on a free trade agreement on goods between India and the Eurasian Economic Union, covering sectors of mutual interest, the joint statement said.
They also directed both sides to intensify efforts in negotiations on a mutually beneficial agreement on the promotion and protection of investment, it said.
India and Russia also welcomed steps to ensure long-term supply of fertilisers to India and discussed the potential establishment of joint ventures in this area.
