Hyderabad: It has been a year since Telugu was accorded classical language status but in a classic case of neglect and delay, it has been deprived of Rs 100 crore for its development. This, even as a proposal is ready to excavate and investigate the pre-Christian era history of the language.

The proposals also include tracing out the ‘missing history’ of the language pertaining to a 250-year-old period somewhere in history. For several years, Andhra Pradesh was seeking the Centre to grant classical language status to Telugu but it was only last year that the union ministry of culture yielded to the request.

But this was of no avail, as huge funds for the development of Telugu could not be released because of a legal wrangle. The funds have to be routed through the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore which is the coordinating agency of the development of all Indian languages. This has not happened. The ministry of culture, itself is to be blamed in part, for the delay.

However, there is hope in the horizon after several months of a legal wrangle as in a week or two, the Madras High Court is expected to dipose of a matter challenging the modalities followed in granting classical language status to Telugu and Kannada.

A Chennai-based advocate had approached the Madras High Court with his objections and both the Karnataka government and Andhra Pradesh government sought the intervention of the the Supreme Court. What was, however, tragic was the Centre itself did not file its counter for several months in the SC on the matter. This resulted in a long delay.

“With the SC now intervening, the Madras High Court is expected to clear the decks in a week or so,” former chairman of A P Official Language Commission A B K Prasad said. Classical Telugu’s pre-Christian era history is proposed to be unearthed with the funds that are expected to be released by the Centre. This specific proposal has been made as the glory of Telugu was evident mainly during Nannayya’s period (11th century AD).

One of the most important activities proposed when the funds are released include carrying out an intensive survey of the language and script from the pre-Christian era to Nannayya’s period. “More specifically, exhaustive research in the areas of palm leaf, paper manuscripts and inscriptions has to be carried out”, A B K Prasad said in his proposals.

According to Prasad, ‘missing history’ of the language for nearly 250 years will have to be traced as there are gaps. The A P Official Languages Commission also proposed establishment of a Central Institute of Classical Telugu, a centre of excellence. This is to be governed by a high-level body known as the Telugu Language Development Board.

While there could soon be cheer about the last of legal hurdles being removed for funds to be released for the development of Telugu, the A P Official Language Commission continues to be headless after A B K Prasad demitted office in May this year.