Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu made a strong case for linguistic harmony on Monday, reminding people that no language should be treated as superior or inferior to another. Speaking at the fourth World Telugu Conference, Naidu urged citizens across the country to respect all regional dialects while emphasising that studying in one's mother tongue is often the secret to academic and professional excellence.
While acknowledging that English is a necessary tool in the modern world, the Telugu Desam Party leader warned that losing touch with one’s native language is equivalent to losing one's identity. He expressed his abhorrence of the idea that the digital age is a threat to tradition. He, further, argued that technology should be harnessed to preserve and promote local heritage. As one of India's six classical languages spoken by nearly 10 crore people, Telugu remains a massive point of pride for the state— a sentiment echoed by delegates from 40 different countries who attended the event.
To make good on his words, the Chief Minister declared that a full-fledged Telugu university would be established in Rajahmundry. It will be named after Potti Sriramulu, the legendary Gandhian revolutionary who, in 1952, fasted for 58 days unto death. Sriramulu's death had precisely catalysed the creation of Andhra State-the redrawing of the Indian map, literally along linguistic lines. Honoring him thus, Naidu hopes the next generation will learn to cherish the history of the language rather than just speaking it.
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