Chief Minister’s Legal Advisor and Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnanna said the State government has sought a report on the inclusion of the Kodava language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution and suggested forming committees and sub-committees to prepare it strictly in line with legal criteria.
Addressing a meeting at the Kodava Samaj Hall, Virajpet, Ponnanna noted that efforts to secure constitutional recognition for Kodava have been ongoing for decades and stressed the need for a disciplined, coordinated approach.
He urged the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy, Kodava organisations, language experts, writers and scholars to jointly compile a comprehensive report for submission to the government. He added that the Chief Minister is supportive of the initiative and a delegation would meet him soon.
He informed that the Kodava language, culture and traditional attire are also followed by several other communities. He said that there are 21 communities among Kodava speakers, including Amma Kodava, Heggade, Airi, Kembatti, Koyava, Kolaya, Kaniya, Kapala, Kudiya, JammaMapilla, Maliya, Marangi, Madiwala, Nainda, Bannanga, Baniya, Bunepattam, Panika, Adiya, Kodava Nair and others.
Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy President Ajijnikanda Mahesh Nachaiah said the proposed report would cover the historical, social, cultural and folk background of the Kodava community, highlighting the benefits of inclusion such as official recognition, academic opportunities, literary and cultural conferences, and support for language development.
Speakers including Arun Machayaiah, P.G. Ayyappa, Dr. Mechira Subhash Nanaiah, Nandineravanda Nachappa and others underlined the need for collective effort to preserve and promote the Kodava language and culture. Several representatives of Kodava organisations, former academy presidents, writers and language experts were present.
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