Aleman Venkat Rao – Kannada Reader – Madras Presidency

Aleman Venkat Rao

It was in the pre-Independence era ( Around 1897) eldest of our grandfathers Late Aleman Venkat Rao joined the Christian College ( pic) as Prof of Kannada and then later became the Reader of Kannada at Madras University which was then called Madras Presidency. He was also a host for many Mangalorians who migrated to Madras for Education under the regional quota. Prof. Mariappa Bhat succeeded him as Reader in 1949. I am told that the generation was fluent in the Tulu language in which my ancestors used to talk. B.A. Kannada was first introduced here by him and later after decades, it was introduced in Mysore and Bangalore. Many Kannadigas and Tamilians do not know this. It was recently in 2006 B.A.Kannada was discontinued at Madras University due to a lack of strength in enrollment. History remains fascinating in its details.