Beary Language Faces Existential Crisis; Community and State Action Urged to Preserve Linguistic Heritage

The Beary language, spoken along Karnataka's coast for over 1,500 years, confronts an existential crisis that demands immediate intervention from both the community and state authorities, according to Abdul Rahiman Kuttethuru, President of the Beary Literary Meet.

Despite significant literary development following the establishment of the Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy in 2007, the language continues to lose ground in everyday use. Urbanisation, modern lifestyles, and the dominance of other languages have accelerated this decline, with traditional Beary vocabulary disappearing at an alarming rate. The academy has made commendable progress through dictionaries, grammar books, and classical translations, while women writers have emerged as vital contributors to literary revival.

To address the crisis, leaders propose establishing a Beary Bhavan with research facilities, introducing Beary as an optional school subject, documenting folk arts, and expanding media presence through national broadcasters. Ultimately, preservation efforts must begin within families, where speakers can model linguistic pride and encourage younger generations to embrace their heritage.