Unveiling the Struggles: Kannada Writers Confront the Challenge of Science Literature with Passion and Resolve
Market Forces and Terminology Barriers Impact Kannada Science Literature
Despite a genuine interest in reading scientific material in local languages, the publication of science in Kannada faces several hurdles, says Kollegala Sharma, a renowned science communicator. Sharma points out a significant lack of science books and resources in Indian languages, Kannada included. The obstacles range from insufficient support for scientific writing in Kannada to the complexity of scientific terminology and an education system favoring English instruction.
Sharma highlights a pronounced issue: there are few original science writers in Kannada. According to him, market forces rather than reader interest inhibit the publication of science in Kannada. Only a handful of senior writers like Palahalli Vishwanath and Nagesh Hegde contribute significantly, while young writers are scarce. Adding to this is the debate over whether to use Sanskrit or Kannada terms for scientific concepts, further complicating the creation of accessible science literature.
The scarcity extends to science textbooks. Although Kannada medium education is prevalent up to the 10th standard, higher education lacks Kannada textbooks, with available resources often being poorly translated NCERT textbooks. This gap means roughly 80% of the population lacks access to comprehensible scientific information, Sharma notes.
Another seasoned science writer, Vishwa Keerthi, echoes these concerns. He attributes the struggle to the dominance of English in higher education and the disconnect many science writers feel with Kannada literature. Nonetheless, Keerthi affirms that there is a readership for Kannada science literature, citing positive feedback from remote districts. Despite these constraints, Keerthi believes that writing in Kannada can significantly benefit many, though it needs wider dissemination.
Published: September 16, 2024, 09:00 AM IST
Original Story https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/writers-highlight-the-challenge-of-science-literature-in-kannada/article68633698.ece
Category : Bengaluru
Tags:
