Telugu language policy

File:Telugu Talli Statue.jpg, symbol of the Telugu people]]

Telugu language policy is a policy issue in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with 84 percent of the population reporting Telugu as their first language in Andhra Pradesh prior to the creation of the State of Telangana.{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Language/parta.htm|title=Census of India - Distribution of the 22 Scheduled Languages|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=2018-02-27}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_Data_Online/Language/Statement2.aspx|title=Census of India - Statement II|website=www.censusindia.gov.in|access-date=2018-02-27}} Telugu-language advocates decry a lack of incentivisation and government support for the language, and press for their linguistic rights for Telugu's greater{{clarify|reason=official what?|date=December 2017}} recognition and promotion.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

Present status

Telugu and English are the two dominant languages of instruction in the schools of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, while there are also schools who use other regional languages such as Urdu as the medium of instruction. Telugu is a compulsory subject in schools in both states, with fluency in the language being a requirement for matriculation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/telangana-telugu-school-1044430-2017-09-14|title=Telugu now a mandatory subject for Telangana Class 1 to 12 school students|date=2017-09-14|website=India Today|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-27}}

The government in Andhra Pradesh is working to increase the number of English medium state schools, with some proposals calling for English to be the only medium of instruction in state schools, claiming that this policy reflects the growing desire of parents and that the state sector is losing pupils due to its inability to meet the increased demand for English medium schools.{{Cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/010517/english-medium-must-in-state-schools-says-andhra-pradesh.html|title=English medium must in state schools, says Andhra Pradesh government|date=2017-05-01|work=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=2018-02-27|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Andhra-Pradesh/2017-09-27/AP-mulls-over-English-medium-in-government-schools-/329362|title=AP mulls over English medium in government schools|website=The Hans India|language=en|access-date=2018-02-27}} In Telangana, the government has issued plans to mandate English-medium education in all the private schools in the state. The trend towards English-medium education has caused alarm among some Telugu-language activists who claim that the state governments are placing the language in an inferior position and depriving Telugu-speakers of their language rights.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/Telugu-loses-out-to-English-as-medium-of-education/article14003197.ece|title=Telugu loses out to English as medium of education|last=Dayashankar|first=K. M.|date=2016-01-17|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-02-27|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}} Passions have been further inflamed by anecdotal reports of students in English-language schools being punished for speaking Telugu.{{cite web|url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-09/hyderabad/31139041_1_telugu-caned-girl|archive-url= https://archive.today/20130411034115/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-09/hyderabad/31139041_1_telugu-caned-girl|url-status= dead|archive-date= 11 April 2013|title= Girl caned for speaking Telugu in school |date=9 March 2012|work= The Times of India|accessdate=17 March 2013}}

Many educated Telugu people began travelling around the world in search of knowledge-based jobs, and have observed that many countries are prospering faster than India by imparting education in their native languages without depending on English.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}} Throughout India, native-language advocates are demanding less reliance on English.

Telugu promotion

In 2012 the Andhra Pradesh official-language commission resumed its activities, and was tasked with organizing the fourth World Telugu Conference (WTC) after a 22-year hiatus. The conference was a success, with 5,000 Telugu delegates from all over the world meeting in Tirupati.{{cite web|url= http://www.newswala.com/Hyderabad-News/PM-Manmohan-Singh-lauds-Telugu-people-26582.html|title= PM Manmohan Singh lauds Telugu people|date= 29 December 2012|accessdate= 17 March 2013|archive-date= 5 February 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130205123101/http://www.newswala.com/Hyderabad-News/PM-Manmohan-Singh-lauds-Telugu-people-26582.html|url-status= dead}}

={{anchor|Actions under implementation}}Implementations=

Compulsory subject up to the 10th standard in the state beginning in the 2013-14 academic year.{{cite web|url= http://newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/article1440036.ece |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130130182107/http://newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/article1440036.ece |url-status= dead |archive-date= 30 January 2013 |title= Telugu to be compulsory in State schools |date=29 January 2013 |accessdate=17 March 2013}}
In 2012, the government of Andhra Pradesh announced that all shop and business signs must be written prominently in Telugu.{{cite web|url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-24/hyderabad/35333016_1_labour-commissioner-official-language-commission-telugu|archive-url= https://archive.today/20130411034354/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-24/hyderabad/35333016_1_labour-commissioner-official-language-commission-telugu|url-status= dead|archive-date= 11 April 2013|title= Shop signs must be in Telugu In Andhra Pradesh |date=24 November 2012|work= The Times of India|accessdate=17 March 2013}}
Teachers who punish students speaking Telugu on school premises will be sanctioned, with persistently-offending schools de-recognized.{{cite web|url= http://newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/article1314130.ece|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121028044656/http://newindianexpress.com/states/andhra_pradesh/article1314130.ece|url-status= dead|archive-date= 28 October 2012|title= Private schools warned against discouraging Telugu |date=26 October 2012 |accessdate=17 March 2013}}{{cite web|url= http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/its-going-to-be-telugu-velugu-vs-englishvinglish/article4066253.ece |title= It's going to be Telugu 'Velugu' vs English-Vinglish |website= The Hindu |accessdate=17 March 2013}}
Joining the World Unicode Consortium and developing a Unicode-based script for Telugu.{{cite web|url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-09/hyderabad/30135005_1_telugu-language-world-language-complex-words|archive-url= https://archive.today/20130411034718/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-09/hyderabad/30135005_1_telugu-language-world-language-complex-words|url-status= dead|archive-date= 11 April 2013|title=

Telugu set to become world language |date=9 September 2011|work= The Times of India|accessdate=17 March 2013}}

Official correspondence from the village to the state-secretariat level will be in Telugu, with all official documents signed in Telugu.{{cite web|url= http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/officials-appending-signatures-in-telugu/article4388356.ece|title= Officials appending signatures in Telugu|website= The Hindu|date=7 February 2013|accessdate=17 March 2013}}
Annual statewide events, such as Telugu Language Day (celebrated on Gidugu Venkata Ramamoorty's birthday),{{cite web|url= http://www.mickeymehtahbf.com/blog/2012/08/30/telugu/ |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130411091328/http://www.mickeymehtahbf.com/blog/2012/08/30/telugu/ |url-status= usurped |archive-date= 11 April 2013 |title= Celebrate Telugu language – Remembering Gidugu Ramamurthy.|date=30 August 2012|accessdate=17 March 2013}} International Mother Tongue Day, Official Language Day,{{cite web |url= http://www.sakshipost.com/index.php/news/state/11170-may-14-is-official-language-day-in-ap |title= May 14 is official language day in AP |date= 5 February 2013 |accessdate= 17 March 2013 |url-status= dead |archive-date= 11 April 2013 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130411183653/http://www.sakshipost.com/index.php/news/state/11170-may-14-is-official-language-day-in-ap }} and Charles Phillip Brown's birthday{{cite web|url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Brown-father-of-modern-day-Telugu-language-/articleshow/3664150.cms|archive-url= https://archive.today/20130411043152/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2008-11-02/hyderabad/27922967_1_telugu-language-telugu-literature-kadapa|url-status= live|archive-date= 11 April 2013|title= Brown, father of modern day Telugu language |date=2 November 2008|work= The Times of India|access-date=17 March 2013}} to inspire Telugu-language development.
₹20 lakh to each district to promote Telugu language and culture in 2012–2013.{{cite web|url= http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Vijayawada/efforts-to-promote-telugu-language-to-get-a-fillip/article4101280.ece|title= Efforts to promote Telugu language to get a fillip.|website= The Hindu| accessdate=17 March 2013}}
Greetings and awards by the state government for encouraging correspondence in Telugu.
All court proceedings and judgments, except for the High Court, will be in Telugu.{{cite web|url= http://www.newswala.com/Hyderabad-News/Chief-Minister-N-Kiran-Kumar-Reddy-endorses-use-of-Telugu-in-judiciary-29603.html|title= Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy endorses use of Telugu in judiciary|accessdate= 17 March 2013|archive-date= 28 May 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130528024802/http://www.newswala.com/Hyderabad-News/Chief-Minister-N-Kiran-Kumar-Reddy-endorses-use-of-Telugu-in-judiciary-29603.html|url-status= dead}}{{cite web|url= http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130310/news-current-affairs/article/stress-use-mother-tongue |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130410175306/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130310/news-current-affairs/article/stress-use-mother-tongue |url-status= dead |archive-date= 10 April 2013 |title= Stress on use of mother tongue in courts|date=10 March 2013|accessdate=17 March 2013}}
The state government proclaimed 2013 as Telugu Development Year.{{cite web|url= http://thehansindia.com/2013/03/15/2013-declared-telugu-development-year/|title= 2013 declared Telugu Development Year |accessdate=27 March 2013}}{{cite web|url= http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/rs-25-crore-allocated-for-telugu-baata/article4536270.ece|title= Rs. 25 crore allocated for 'Telugu Baata'|website= The Hindu|accessdate=27 March 2013}}

={{anchor|Initiated actions}}Initiatives=

A ministry will be formed to promote Telugu,{{cite web|url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Separate-ministry-to-promote-Telugu-CM/articleshow/17789937.cms|archive-url= https://archive.today/20130411033448/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-12-28/hyderabad/36035845_1_world-telugu-conference-telugu-language-telugu-community|url-status= live|archive-date= 11 April 2013|title= Separate ministry to promote Telugu: CM |date=28 December 2012|work= The Times of India|access-date=17 March 2013}} translating books, expanding vocabulary and reviving Telugu fine arts and literature academies.{{cite web|url= http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/plan-to-revive-fine-arts-literature-academies-buddha-prasad/article4396093.ece |title= Plan to revive fine arts, literature academies: Buddha Prasad |website= The Hindu |date=9 February 2013 |accessdate=17 March 2013}} software requirement,{{cite web |url= http://www.newswala.com/Hyderabad-News/CM-gets-award-for-success-of-Telugu-conference-9182.html |title= CM gets award for success of Telugu conference held in USA |date= 18 February 2012 |accessdate= 17 March 2013 |archive-date= 4 February 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130204214958/http://www.newswala.com/Hyderabad-News/CM-gets-award-for-success-of-Telugu-conference-9182.html |url-status= dead }}
Preference for Telugu-medium students in state-government hiring{{cite web|url= http://www.sakshieducation.com/(S(d5kfuwndjgrefzvy1bsq0d55))/JobsStory.aspx?nid=38884 |title= Weightage for Telugu medium students in govt jobs likely. |date=2012-11-26 |accessdate=17 March 2013}}

{{anchor|Voluntary gestures}}Voluntary initiatives

Print and visual Telugu media have taken steps to reduce English in Telugu programs, using appropriate alternate Telugu words.{{cite web|url= http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/telugu-language-slowly-back-on-track-in-media/article4218748.ece |title= Telugu language slowly back on track in media|website= The Hindu|date=2012-12-20 |accessdate=17 March 2013}} The Andhra Cricket Association has translated the National Cricket Academy's (NCA) coaching manuals into Telugu.{{cite web|url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-30/top-stories/32941557_1_coaches-telugu-language-aca-president|archive-url= https://archive.today/20130411041224/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-30/top-stories/32941557_1_coaches-telugu-language-aca-president|url-status= dead|archive-date= 2013-04-11|title= National Cricket Academy coaching manual in Telugu |date=2012-07-30|work= The Times of India|accessdate=17 March 2013}}