Hyderabad, Aug 21: Vice President M. Venkaiah idu on Monday advised both Telanga and Andhra Pradesh to make Telugu the language of administration as well as a compulsory subject for people to get government jobs. “I am not saying Telugu should be the medium of instruction but everybody should compulsorily study Telugu as a language and as a subject,” he said, while speaking at the civic reception hosted by the Telanga government here.
He advised Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N. Chandrababu idu to give priority to Telugu, saying the language of administration should be the one which people understand.
Describing the English language as a “disease”, he said it had gripped all. “I know it will not go away easily. Its medicine is also not easy. It has spread like an infectious disease,” he said, while clarifying that he is not against English. The Vice President said some people learn English for fashion but mostly do it to get jobs. He said he feels that language and sentiments should go together and the language promotes the culture.
idu also advised the two Chief Ministers to sort out all the problems between the two states through dialogue.
He hoped that they will work together in strengthening both the states to make them more prosperous. idu noted that while he was born in Nellore and studied in Visakhaptm, he politically grew up in Hyderabad.
Referring to the rich culture of Telanga, its traditions, festivals and people following different religions, he said the state is often described as “north of south” and “south of north”. “That is the typical ture of Hyderabad and also of Telanga. It’s a meeting place of diverse languages,” he said, while describing Hyderabad as “miniature India”. “If you keep aside politics and observe people’s lifestyle, it may not be an exaggeration to call it mini Bharat,” he said recalling his long association with the city beginning in 1978 when he was first elected to the assembly of undivided Andhra Pradesh.
idu noted that Hyderabad received global recognition and has special place in the world’s development map. Stating that while the country had developed after Independence, there was a need to ensure that all people become part of the development.
He stressed the need to usher in “Ramarajya” as dreamt by Mahatma Gandhi but clarified that this should not be interpreted as theological rule.
idu called upon all political parties, leaders and people’s representatives to make every citizen feel that he is part of the development. (IANS)