(Photo Courtesy: Hariprasad Holla)
There was a discussion about the Kannada Number Plates for the vehicles in Karnataka.There were some arguments against it and for it. This made me to think further and deeper.
Today by and large we see 'English only' number plates in Karnataka and very few Kannada only number plates and very very few Kannada and English number plates. However Kannada is the majority Language of Karnataka and English is understood by only small number of people. There was an argument that Kannada number plates doesn't make practical sense. However the question is, for whome it impractical is unanswered; for what percentage of people its impractical its unanswered.
All over the world we have democracy built *primarily* based on welfare of Majority. One of the fundamental philosohpical principle of true democracy is to facilitate
'maximum comfort for maximum number of people'.
This should be guiding force for any nation or state in pursuit of true democracy. So coming back to Karnataka, Kannada is the preferred language of the majority of the people in Karnataka, becuase people feel comfort in that langauge. Similarly Tamil in Tamil Nadu and Telugu in Andhra Pradesh and so on. So if we say we are true democracy we can't dismember/ignore/discount the majority and impose minority language on the majority.
Kannadigas living in Karnataka are the natives(permanent)of this state and the majority of them who are born here, who grow up here and who die here. Minority immigrants will definitely miss one of these that is to say either they wouldn't be born here or they wouldn't grow here or they wouldn't die here. So, It does a lot of practical sense to build the system, be it political, economical for the natives i.e Kannadigas in Karnataka , Tamils in Tamil Naadu and Telugus in Andhra Pradesh and so on. It would be foolish/impractical if we try to build the systems for the minority immigrants because there is always an element of 'uncertainity' attached with immigrants. So one cannot waste the systems on minority immigrants. So more practical scenario would be for the immigrants to mingle with majority natives. Its only in the best interest of immigrants ot learn the language of natives because immigrants are in minority for the foreseeable future in Karnataka.
It would be disastrous to see a Kannadigas becoming minority in Karnataka and Tamils becoming minority in Tamil Naadu and so on. It defeats the whole purpose of the carving out 'Linguistic States' during the formation fo Indian Nation. The idea behind carving out the Linguistic States would be not just to preserve the Linguistic, Cultural diversity of India but also even strengthen it because that is only the way to go forward. That is the true democracy. That is only the way to uphold the true humanity and humanitarian values.
Not allowing Kannada Number(name) Plates in Karnataka, Not allowing Tamil number(name) plates in Tamil Nadu and Not allowing Telugu number(name) plates in Andhra Pradesh is truely 'Undemoratic' and it is fundamentally against the spirit and intentions of democracy and democratic values.
4 ಕಾಮೆಂಟ್ಗಳು:
Bharath,
Your argument is completely flawed with respect to number plates.
When it comes to car number plate, it is there for a reason, identification. I, myself, have carried out this experiment of asking the so-called native population to read out the Kannada number plates, and it has come a cropper at most times. So, why follow something, even the natives dont understand.
In case of an emergency, (let us say you get into an accident), what happens if somebody is not able to interpret the number on the plate. A similar case, where, you violate a traffic rule, what if a traffic cop or anybody else cannot easily identify the plate.
The so called Arabic numerals 0-9, are understood by every body. Why replace them with Kannada numbers.
If you want to show your patriotism to Kannada/Karnataka, there are so many other ways to do it, and this definitely is not one of them!
well written Bharath
Kannada number plates is the way to go in Karnataka. We cannot keep denying Kannada it's rightful usage by saying it cant be used here, there and all that. dont take note of some useless comments really. Kannada numerals are meant for Kannadigas and not for anyone else. I build my house for myself and not for some outsiders. enough of this outsider pleasing. cant read the number plates cant help it. enough of this over good ness. yes we are proud of Kannada, no one has the right to question it.
Uday,
I never said remove English alphabets and Hindu Arabic numerals. You seem to be assuming this. All I am saying don't deny the basic right of using his own langauge on his own vehicle.
You can have
Kannada+English in Karnataka
Tamil+English in TN
Telugu+English in AP
and so on
ಕಾಮೆಂಟ್ ಪೋಸ್ಟ್ ಮಾಡಿ