LANGUAGE STEW

Karnataka chief minister Siddaramiah’s insistence that his officials use Kannada in their official communications has put many non- local officials in a fix. In fact the chief minister has threatened that he will not look at those files with notings in English. Obviously, the babus most affected by Mr Siddaramiah’s fondness for the local tongue are babus hailing from the Hindi belt, and who at best know a smattering of Kannada. Apparently, a mere 10 per cent of these babus are well versed in the language of the state they serve in. Interestingly, Alok Mohan, additional director- general of police ( administration) claims that the state police department conducts almost all its work in Kannada.

Naturally the diktat has set the Kannada- knowing babus against those who prefer to use English. The English lobby says that while using the language is fine within the state, only English can be used for corresponding with the Centre. They are hoping that the chief minister will relent and allow English notings on government files.