Thank you very much for your interest in learning a unique Indian Language which like Greek is both a classical and a modern language. We welcome you to the Kannada Online Language teaching programme. It is needless to say that Kannada has a long recorded history and it is one of the major Dravidian languages. Though Kannada is primarily spoken in Karnataka which is in the Southern part of India, during the long period of its history, the Kannadigas have moved to several parts of the world. Considerable number of Kannadigas are settled down in various parts of the world along with other diasporic Indians. As we had received lot of queries from these diasporic Kannadigas and other interested persons who wanted to learn Kannada language and know about Kannada Culture, Literature and History, we thought this demand could be met by developing a comprehensive second foreign language online learning package which could encompass with in it all the required teaching and learning components. Kannada online programme is the result of this thought.

I sincerely hope that the students of this course will greatly enjoy browsing through various facilities which have been created here and also the rich academic content incorporated. However, it is a reality that a course such as this one with its ambitious content and format, need constant growth. Hence we would definitely like to have your suggestions for improvement, and modification, which we can assure you, would be done constantly. Like us, your motto too can be to

"Learn more languages and earn more friends."

Best of luck.

Prof. Udaya Narayan Singh Director C.I.I.L. Mysore

Namaste.

Welcome to the Kannada Online language learning programme with the folded hands. That is how we greet, that is how we welcome our guests.

Thank you for your interest in learning Kannada Language which is one of the ancient and modern Indian Languages with great heritage. It is rich in literature, history and culture. It has the pride of creating unparallel masters of par excellence in many fields.

Kannada is one of the major Dravidian languages spoken in Karnataka, which is in the southern part of India. It is only second to Tamil Language in its antiquity. The modern Kannada Language is the official language of the state which christened itself to express any knowledge branch on the earth. Learning Kannada Language is like opening the Pandora's box to watch, witness and appreciate a bounty of richness of language, literature, culture, aesthetics, human values and above all new sensibilities. It is exploratory and exotic. It is sumptuous and sensitive. I am sure you enter into a human saga which is unique in its own merit.

The online programme that you are going to see is academic, informative and illustrative. This is the result of untiring and imaginative efforts of both the academic and technical team which worked for over a period of two years. They deserve greater appreciation. A big thanks to them. We have a familiar saying from one of our epics. "Unless we have a connoisseur to wear the garland of Jasmine (flower of fragrance) what is the use of making the garland?". We look forward for the connoisseur of languages. If you are one, a big thank to you.

Lingadevaru Halemane
Co-ordinator
Kannada Online.