Hyderabad, Jan 4 (Reporter) Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy emphasised the urgent need to preserve the Telugu language and called for a movement to begin at home. Speaking as the chief guest at the 12th Biennial Congress of the World Telugu Federation held at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) on Saturday, he highlighted the significance of nurturing Telugu as a mother tongue to preserve its cultural and linguistic heritage. “I am delighted to participate in the 12th Biennial Congress of the World Telugu Federation. My heartfelt thanks to Ms Indira Datt and her team for organizing this three-day event in our blessed city. The Federation has been serving the Telugu community for 32 years by promoting the language, its traditions, and arts, and supporting artists worldwide,” said the Minister. Kishan Reddy expressed pride in seeing Telugu-speaking people from across the globe unite under one platform, working together to celebrate the Telugu language, literature, and traditions. Calling Telugu one of India’s ancient and melodious languages, he noted that its recognition as a classical language by the Central Government underscores its cultural importance. The minister voiced concern over the diminishing use of Telugu in daily life, with many preferring English even for writing Telugu words. “It’s disheartening to see Telugu being sidelined. Today, only 30 per cent of conversations at home are in Telugu, while the rest are in English. In the past, everything was spoken in Telugu. Let us resolve to speak in Telugu, starting at home,” he urged. Reflecting on the challenges faced by the Telugu language during the Nizam era, Kishan Reddy recalled the struggles waged through movements like Granthala Yodyam and the Andhra Mahasabha to protect the language despite Urdu being imposed in schools. He lauded art forms like Yakshaganam, Bhagavatam, and Telugu drama as unique treasures of the language, unmatched by other languages except for Sanskrit. Highlighting the global success of nations like China, Japan, South Korea, and Germany, which prioritize education in their native languages, the Minister argued that development does not require reliance on English. “These countries have advanced in various fields, even using their mother tongue for space missions. Yet, we neglect our language, even in primary education. This is a colonial legacy we must overcome,” he said. Kishan Reddy praised the Modi government’s National Education Policy, which prioritizes the mother tongue and aims to provide textbooks in major Indian languages. “Human intelligence develops in the mother tongue, starting from the mother’s womb. While learning English is useful for jobs, true intellectual growth is rooted in the native language,” he remarked...////...