From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Nov 1: Karnataka will observe the next whole year as ‘Kannada Kayaka Varsha’ or Year of Kannada Work till October 31, 2021.

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa made the announcement while participating in the 65th Kannada Rajyothsava function organised by the Department of Public Instruction and Samagra Shikshana Karnataka at the Sri Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday morning.

The Chief Minister unfurled the State’s flag to mark the occasion and urged the people of the State to become Kannadigas for the whole year and continuously instead of celebrating the birth of the Karnataka State only during the month of November.

“It is the bounden duty of all citizens of Karnataka to call themselves proud Kannadigas and work for growth, development and protection of Kannada language and the unique culture of the State,’’ he said pointing out that Kannada language had a rich history and legacy of 2,000 years.

The Chief Minister reiterated the State Government’s commitment for the development and growth of Karnataka as a model State and promised to work for the goal on the advice of experts.

The State has completed 64 years and entered the 65th year since the unified Karnataka State came into being, Yediyurappa said pointing out that the State had the unique distinction and pride of winning the prestigious Jnanapith Award for a record eight times.

He said it was the duty of all Kannadigas to remember and honour the stalwarts and leaders who had worked for the unification and growth of Karnataka. He emphasised the need for developing the Kannada language to meet the growing requirements of the modern technological advances, especially in computers and digitisation.

Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar and Congress MLA from Shivajinagar Rizwan Arshad were present on the occasion.

The Chief Minister offered a floral tribute to goddess Bhuvaneshwari at his official residence ‘Cauvery’, in the morning.

Later, the Chief Minister flagged off a bike rally organised by the Special Initiatives Riders Association from his home office ‘Krishna’.

Special Initiatives Riders Association President D Ganesh Prasad and MLA Ravi Subramanya were present on the occasion.