Bengaluru: Kannada must become a language of everyday life and not remain confined to official use, Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said at the state’s Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations at Kanteerava Stadium on Saturday.
Addressing the gathering, Shivakumar urged parents and teachers to nurture love and respect for the mother tongue among children, stressing that merely learning Kannada was not enough unless it was used in daily conversations.
“Kannada should not merely be an official language; it must become a language of the heart. Language is life itself—a life without language would be like a silent film,” he said.
The chief minister said Kannadigas had made significant contributions to art, sports, science, technology, space research and the IT-BT sector across the world. While Kannada’s roots were in Karnataka, its influence had spread globally through people settled in different countries, he added.
Shivakumar said children must be equipped to compete internationally while remaining connected to their linguistic and cultural roots. He reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting Kannada, Karnataka’s land, water and cultural heritage.
Describing Kannada as the community’s identity and lifeblood, he said the mother tongue played a vital role in transmitting knowledge and culture. He also recalled the contributions and vision of poets D R Bendre and Kuvempu.
Calling Rajyotsava more than an annual celebration, Shivakumar said it was an occasion to honour and serve Mother Bhuvaneshwari. He urged Kannadigas, including those living outside the state and abroad, to preserve their linguistic identity.
He said even small efforts to promote Kannada could make a meaningful contribution to strengthening the language.
