2026: The Year of the Children – A New Year, A Sacred Responsibility by Pravindra Adari
“Language is not just an expression. It has the power to create a world. Like books, language stays with us in our mind and soul. If not in use, it will decay like a man. As long as the mother tongue is in use, we will get respect, respect and recognition. When that situation is not there, nothing will be left,” said Supreme Court judge Justice Pamidighantam S. S. Narasimha.
He was speaking as the chief guest at the third World Telugu Conference in Guntur on Saturday, 3 January 2026. He highlighted the greatness of the Telugu language and stressed the need to preserve it.
As we step into a new year, it is natural to look ahead with hope.
But before we rush forward, this is a moment to pause—and reflect.
At Prerana, every year is not just a calendar change; it is a conscious step in a long journey of preserving Telugu language, culture, and identity for generations to come.
Looking Back with Gratitude: 2025 – The Year of Telugu Writing & Reading
The year 2025, which we declared as the Year of Telugu Writing and Reading, stands as a milestone.
Children across the diaspora took confident steps into Telugu aksharaalu—reading words, writing sentences, and discovering the joy of recognising their mother tongue in its original script. Many of them excelled in sight-reading at the Telugu Eisteddfod by the Andhra Maha Sabha of South Africa.
Parents made time.Children showed commitment.And together, we proved something powerful: When focus is clear, results follow.
This success did not come from pressure—it came from purpose.
Looking Ahead with Clarity: 2026 – The Year of the Children (Pillala Smavathsaram
Building on this momentum, Prerana proudly declares 2026 as The Year of the Children.
Why children?
Because language survival does not depend on institutions.
It depends on homes.
It depends on parents.
And it depends on what we prioritise today.
Children are not just learners—they are carriers of continuity.
Whatever they absorb now will define what survives tomorrow.
The Question We Must All Ask in 2026
Let us begin this year with one honest question:
If your child loses Telugu, what part of you disappears with it?
The answer is not abstract.
When a child loses Telugu, they lose:
Access to the stories that shaped their parents
The emotional language of grandparents
The meaning behind festivals, prayers, songs, and rituals
And when that happens, a part of the parent’s inherited identity quietly fades away.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
But silently—through missed conversations, untranslated emotions, and broken generational links.
Language Is Not an Extra. It Is the Bridge.
A child who does not know Telugu may still love their family.
But they will never fully enter the world their parents grew up in.
They may know their surname—but not its script.
They may attend festivals—but not understand their meaning.
They may hear songs—but not feel their depth.
And over time, what was once lived culture becomes distant memory.
A Message to Parents This New Year
Children do not resist Telugu.
They respond to priority.
If Telugu is spoken daily, they absorb it.
If Telugu is read regularly, they recognise it.
If Telugu is valued at home, they respect it.
This New Year, the question is not “Can we teach Telugu?”
The question is: Will we choose to?
Because if not us—then who? If not now—then when?
A New Year Promise
Let this year be remembered as the year we chose our children over convenience.
Roots over shortcuts.
Continuity over comfort.
Let Telugu not end with us.
Let it live—through our children.
Contact Pravindra Adari to enrol your child for FREE at Prerana Paatashaala. Lessons are conducted in English. Children may learn to write Telugu script or lean via English Transliteration.
2026: The Year of the Children - A New Year. A New Resolve. A Shared Responsibility.
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