Non-Kannadiga students celebrate Kannada and how

Hubballi: Thanks to the efforts of Kannada Language Chair (KLC) at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU, Delhi), many non-Kannadiga students and foreigners are learning Kannada.
Sample this: a Chinese student recites the Kannada rhyme ‘Aane bantondaane..’; Vaibhav Salunkhe, a non-Kannadiga, writes a bit on Hubballi; Vikas Yadav from Bihar speaks in Kannada fluently; Sthira Battacharya from Jharkhand is well-versed in Kannada reading, writing and speaking.
Purushothama Bilimale, professor at KLC, said that 68 students and Kannada enthusiasts have learnt basic Kannada through their evening classes over the last two years. “Actually, their number is 5,000 if we include Kannada enthusiasts learning online,” he added.
Recalling why the Kannada teaching course was launched, Bilimale said though KLC was set up at JNU in 2015, MPhil or PhD seats were not allotted to it. “We continued with research works by putting in place a Kannada library, translation, conferences, workshops, outreach programmes and publication. However, we felt the need of teaching basic Kannada to non-Kannadiga students. So we started evening classes thrice in a week,” the professor said, adding: “With financial support from the Kannada and culture department, we launched website www.kannadakalike.org and it paid off. Now, many Kannada enthusiasts from across the world are learning the language. They do and send us the assignments given on the website.”
Two nationals each from China, Japan and the US are among the learners.
The website contains 30 short-duration video clips that enables the enthusiasts to enhance their skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. The clips have been categorised under rhymes, Kannada papers, yakshagana, communication at Devaraj Market in Mysuru, dasara pada, folklore, and the like.
IAS officer K M Janaki said that she, as the director of the Kannada and culture department, visited KLC last year. “I was thrilled to listen to Chinese, Bihari and other non-Kannadiga students speaking Kannada. KLC is doing a good job in spreading Kannada and culture among enthusiasts of other states and countries,” she added.