Kannada Development Authority (KDA) Chairman Mukyamantri Chandru on Saturday suggested to the State government to standardise the rendition of the state anthem (Naadageethe).
Speaking at a programme organised by the authority to felicitate district and sessions judges who delivered judgments in Kannada, he said, “The state anthem is a little lengthy and the aged find it difficult to stand till its rendition is over. We want the state government to implement recommendations of G S Shivarudrappa Committee on editing the state anthem to reduce the timing of rendition without repetition of stanzas. In the absence of a fixed format, the state anthem is being sung in different tunes.”
Replying to his appeal, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar said he will not comment on editing the state anthem as it may create a controversy.
“Let the KDA chairman take the lead in forming a committee comprising senior Kannada writers and experts, including national poet G S Shivarudrappa, and come out with a report. I am ready to support any decision taken by that committee,” he said.
Responding to Chandru’s demand that the government should withdraw criminal cases filed against Kannada activists, the CM promised to look into the issue.
Speaking on the occasion, Karnataka High Court judge K L Manjunath said, “Before independence, court proceedings were held in Kannada. But with the increase in the usage of English, and non-availability of exact legal terms in Kannada, the proceedings were started in English. There is a need to bring out a dictionary of legal terms in Kannada.”
Fifty seven judges were honoured with a purse of Rs 10,000 each.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S Suresh Kumar was present.