A day after entering office, Karnataka’s Higher Education Minister GT Devegowda was called on by a student delegation from the US. The 68-year-old minister, who spoke only Kannada, availed the services of a translator to interact with the students. Although it seemed to be a good day at work, a short video of this interaction soon appeared in the media.
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It wasn’t his interaction that made the headlines, but his inability to speak English. The news item started a debate on whether knowledge of English is a prerequisite for the post.
Even though Devegowda got support for using Kannada, things weren’t as flattering as he would have liked. His lack of educational qualification for the post ensured the criticism remained. According to his election affidavit, GT Devegowda stopped his education in the 8th standard.
Although Devegowda offered to vacate the post owing to his lack of education qualification and the memes, he was asked to continue by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.
‘If Modi Can Use Translator, So Can Devegowda’
The video of Devegowda’s interaction with the US delegation was published by few media outlets on 23 June. The reports, focusing on the minister’s lack of English knowledge, sparked an outrage with people calling out the media groups for their misplaced priorities.
Support for Not Knowing English, but Not for Lack of Qualification
When it came to his educational qualifications, people were not so kind.
After Devegowda was announced as the minister for higher education, the response was rather critical.
The Dilemma Over the Giant-Killer
GT Devegowda, a former lieutenant of Siddaramaiah, had defeated the former chief minister in his home constituency of Chamundeshwari. Following the victory, he rose to prominence in his party, the JD(S), for being a giant-killer. When Cabinet posts were being decided, he was considered one of the sure shots.
He was offered the higher education department. Devegowda, who openly expressed his reservations about being underqualified for the post, asked for the department of corporations.
Even though portfolios were allocated on 9 June , a miffed Devegowda resisted the decision. It was only after 24 days and several meetings with the chief minister that he agreed to take charge of the department.
When asked about the decision, CM Kumaraswamy said: “What have I studied? I'm working as the chief minister.”
Trouble in the Department as Well
Just when the heat around his appointment was cooling down came another controversy. Days before Devegowda entered office, reports of the government appointing former University of Mysore (UoM) professor KS Rangappa as an advisor to the department emerged. Rangappa is a relative of Kumaraswamy.
However, on his first day, Devegowda announced that Rangappa has not been appointed and that there were no pressures from the CM.
A senior bureaucrat from the department, on condition of anonymity, said that since taking office, Devegowda has been holding meetings with the stakeholders in the department. “On Sunday, he held the first National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting with college lecturers and principals. He was concerned about shortage of college teachers in the state’s colleges,” said the official.
When asked about the minister’s educational qualifications, the official refused to comment.
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