Priyank Kharge Says Kannada Reflects Karnataka’s History, Culture and Literary Traditions

Kannada is a confluence of history, culture and diverse literary traditions: Priyank Kharge

Home Minister and Kalaburagi in-charge Priyank Kharge said Kannada represents a confluence of emotions, history, ideas and traditions during the 71st Karnataka Rajyotsava celebrations in Kalaburagi on Sunday (November 1, 2026).

Mr. Kharge unfurled the national flag at the Nagareshwara High School premises in the Gunj area of Kalaburagi before addressing the gathering.

He said Kannada was not merely a language and highlighted Karnataka’s rich literary and cultural heritage on the occasion.

A language with nearly 2,000 years of history

Mr. Kharge said Kannada had a history spanning nearly 2,000 years and possessed an exceptionally rich and diverse literary tradition.

He recalled that the State government had recently invited more than 40 foreign ambassadors to participate in the Dasara celebrations.

During his interaction with the ambassadors, they expressed admiration for Karnataka’s art, literature, food and culture, he said.

Mr. Kharge said the ambassadors were particularly surprised to learn about the antiquity of the Kannada language and the depth of its literary heritage.

He said Kannada literature included a wide range of traditions, from folk literature and Dasa Sahitya to Jain literature and the Bandaya literary movements.

According to Mr. Kharge, such a broad literary spectrum was rarely found in any other language.

His remarks placed Kannada’s literary history alongside the wider cultural diversity of Karnataka, which he said reflected different identities and aspirations across regions and communities.

Regional identities and cultural diversity

Mr. Kharge said Malnad was known for its lush greenery, while Kalyana Karnataka was celebrated as the land of tur dal and Sufi saints.

He described the Mandya region as the land of silk and milk and said the coastal region represented a distinctive cultural identity.

He described Karnataka as a land of art and culture for writers and as a land that propagated the message of equality for followers of Basavanna.

He also called the State a centre of knowledge for the world, a land of opportunities for the youth and a hub of human resources for foreigners.

Mr. Kharge said Karnataka’s diversity and human resources had made a significant contribution to the country’s economic progress.

Preserving heritage for future generations

Emphasising the need to protect the State’s cultural heritage, Mr. Kharge said the present generation must preserve its literature, history and traditions and pass them on to future generations.

He said celebrating Rajyotsava once a year should not be the sole expression of pride in Karnataka’s heritage.

Instead, sustained efforts were needed to familiarise younger generations with the State’s cultural and literary legacy, he said.

Mr. Kharge added that elected representatives had a responsibility to create an environment conducive to preserving this heritage.

Citizens also had an important role to play in that effort, he said.

The Minister joined the procession and enthusiastically played the drums.

Students from various educational institutions, officials from different departments and people from various walks of life participated in the celebrations.

Source: The Hindu