Bengaluru, Dec. 1 -- Chief Minister Siddaramaiah yesterday emphasised that while Kannada forms the foundation of Karnataka's identity, regional dialects such as Arebhashe have enriched the language and culture of the State.

He was speaking at the Arebhashe Academy Honorary Awards 2024 ceremony, organised by the Department of Kannada and Culture and the Karnataka Arebhashe Culture and Literature Academy, Madikeri, held at Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bengaluru yesterday.

Highlighting the distinct heritage of the Arebhashe-speaking Gowda community, Siddaramaiah noted that they are concentrated in Dakshina Kannada and Kodagu districts, with a population of over three lakh.

Tracing their history, he recalled how the community migrated from Sakl...