Union Minister Stresses the Need to Protect Telugu Language
Hyderabad: Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G Kishan Reddy, has emphasized the importance of safeguarding the Telugu language. Speaking as the chief guest at the 12th biennial conference of the World Telugu Federation in Hyderabad on Saturday, he said the movement to protect Telugu should begin at home, with each individual playing a role in preserving it.
Reddy expressed his happiness in attending the conference and highlighted that Telugu is one of India’s oldest and most beautiful languages. He noted that along with Telugu, other ancient languages recognized by the Central government include Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, and Sanskrit. He described Telugu as a language so melodious that listening to its words often feels like hearing music.
The minister also raised concerns about the declining use of Telugu in daily life. He lamented that many people, despite having Telugu as their mother tongue, are unable to write in the language. He pointed out that even on social media, Telugu words are frequently written in English script. “It is painful to see such neglect. At home, only 30 percent of conversations are in Telugu, with the rest in English. There was a time when everything was communicated in Telugu. We need to change this trend and make an effort to speak in Telugu,” he urged.
Reddy further spoke about the historical challenges faced by the language, particularly during the Nizam’s rule. He said that Telugu was suppressed during that time, with Urdu-medium schools being the norm, forcing Telugu-speaking students to study in Urdu. However, he praised the efforts of past movements, such as the library movement and the Andhra Mahasabha, which fought to preserve the language. He also highlighted the rich cultural heritage of Telugu through unique art forms like Yakshagana, Bhagavatham, and Drama.
The Union Minister’s call to action serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving languages and cultural identities for future generations.
