Teaching in Kannada is a distant dream for teachers in government schools in Karnataka villages bordering Mahabubnagar district of Telangana where Telugu is predominantly spoken.
Though it has been 59 years since the merger of Kannada-speaking areas with the then Mysore State, Kannada is a minority language in these villages, with people conducting all their transactions in Telugu. Such villages include Edlur, Empad, Himalpur, Chandraki, Putpak, Muselappallli, Kuntimari, Nadepali, Nasalawayi, Ajalpur, Nazarpet, Chepetla, Edepalli, Goranur and Anapur.
Teachers in such schools find it difficult to explain Kannada words in Telugu so as to make students understand the lessons. Jaipal Reddy, a Kannada teacher in the primary school at Anapur village, speaks fluent Telugu and this has turned out be useful for him. But for other teachers, particularly those who hail from south Karnataka districts, it is a daunting task to conduct classes.
Ramachandra D.R. of Mysore, who has been teaching in the primary school at Nasalawayi village from the last seven years, said he continued to be at sea while teaching, with students demanding him to explain lessons in Telugu. “I am now forced to learn Telugu...,” he said.
Yadgir Block Education Officer Prabhu Kannan told The Hindu over the phone teachers were using Telugu for translation only for the sake of students’ convenience. Teachers had been advised to create awareness among students and parents about the need to learn Kannada, he said.
