Canadian MP Chandra Arya speaks Kannada in Parliament, mentions Kuvempu, Dr Rajkumar
Bengaluru, May 20: Karnataka-born Canadian MP Chandra Arya spoke in his mother tongue Kannada in the Canadian parliament on Thursday and the video of his speech has now gone viral.
In his video, he said that it was a proud moment for Kannadigas as a man born in Sira Taluk in Tumakuru district in Karnataka was speaking in Kannada in the Canadian Parliament.
In
his
speech,
Arya
mentioned
about
Kannadigas
in
Canada
celebrating
Kannada
Rajyotsava
in
2018
in
the
Parliament.
He
took
Twitter
to
share
the
video
and
wrote,
"I
spoke
in
my
mother
tongue
(first
language)
Kannada
in
Canadian
parliament.
This
beautiful
language
has
long
history
and
is
spoken
by
about
50
million
people.
This
is
the
first
time
Kannada
is
spoken
in
any
parliament
in
the
world
outside
of
India."
I spoke in my mother tongue (first language) Kannada in Canadian parliament.
— Chandra Arya (@AryaCanada) May 19, 2022
This beautiful language has long history and is spoken by about 50 million people.
This is the first time Kannada is spoken in any parliament in the world outside of India. pic.twitter.com/AUanNlkETT
MP Chandra Arya ended his speech by remembering the lines "Elladaru iru enthadaru iru yendendigu nee Kannadavaagiru"(wherever you are be a Kannadiga forever) penned by Jnanapith Award-winning poet Kuvempu and made it popular by Sandalwood legend Dr Rajkumar.
The clip of his speech has now gone viral.
Chandra Arya is a Canadian Liberal politician, who was elected to represent the riding of Nepean in the House of Commons of Canada in the 2015 federal election and subsequently re-elected in the 2019 federal election. He currently serves as a member of the Standing Committee on International Trade (CIIT).