<div><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 10pt;">Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu has called for preservation and promotion of classical languages saying that they provide the window to our past and the civilizational values of ancient India.  Mr Venkaiah Naidu, who arrived at Venkatachalam in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh by a Special train on a two-day visit to Sri Potti Shriramulu, interacted with the scholars, writers and experts in Telugu Language today.  </span></div><span style="color: #222222;"><br />''The Vice President said that our classical languages represent the knowledge and wisdom of our ancient thinkers, scientists, poets, sages, doctors, philosophers and rulers. He stressed the need to preserve and promote classical languages. Mr Naidu's discussions with scholars centered around the promotion of classical Telugu language and the development of the Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Telugu (CESCT).<br />''<br />''While referring to some reports, Mr Naidu expressed concern over the fact that more than 40 languages or dialects in India are considered to be endangered and are believed to be heading towards extinction as only a few thousand people speak them.<br />''<br />''Following a demand to shift the Centre of Excellence for Studies in Classical Telugu from Mysuru, Mr Naiudu had suggested shifting the CESCT to the then unified AP, some years ago.  The Central Government wrote to the combined Andhra Pradesh Government in this regard. After the bifurcation of the AP State, Mr Naidu again took the initiative and urged the Central Government to shift CESCT to either of the Telugu speaking states. Later the Union Government decided to locate CESCT in Nellore. The CESCT in Classical Telugu, among others, propagates and preserves the classical language inside and outside its speech territories.</span><br />