Bantwal: Mukyamantri Chandru Supports Inclusion of Tulu in 8th Schedule of Constitution
 
Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (RD/CN)
 
Bantwal, Oct 13: Mukyamantri Chandru, chairman, Kannada Development Authority, extended his support to the struggle seeking inclusion of Tulu in the 8th schedule of the Indian Constitution.
 
He was speaking after inaugurating the Kannada Nudi Teru at B C Road on Thursday October 13.

"Even though Tulu is spoken so widely in the region such that it is even known by the sobriquet Tulunadu, the people of undivided Dakshina Kannada have never rejected Kannada or looked down upon it. They have given equal importance to Kannada, Tulu, Konkani, and Beary languages,” lauded Chandru, adding that Tulu indeed deserves to be included in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

"We must go beyond petty politics and differences in language, region etc and move foward with determination. Let Kannada Nudi Teru be an inspiration towards achieving this goal," he added.

Chandru felt that the people of the state are under the illusion that getting education in English medium equips them with better knowledge and capability. He pointed out that a number of scholars and writers, who studied in Kannada medium, had bagged Jnanpith awards. Lamenting that the level of love, affection and reverence about their mother tongue among Kannadigas is far less as compared to the people of our neighbouring states, he said that this in effect means that we have forgotten our culture. He warned that this attitude will result in keeping the next generation in dark about the richness of our language and culture.

He said that Kannada Development Authority is committed to build a Kannada Bhavan in the taluk. Replying to questions relating to Kannada Bhavan, he promised to seek reports from the revenue as well as Kannada and culture departments and take initiatives towards this end. He confessed that he was ignorant of the fact that foundation stone had been laid to Kannada Bhavan here but nothing else had been done about it thereafter.

MLA Ramanath Rai, in his presidential address, called on the people to work for the development of Kannada.
 
Veteran litterateur Na D’Souza, artiste Nagaraj Murti, and Tulu Academy member Shailaja Shetty were the chief guests on the occasion.
 
Tahsildar Narayan Rao, zilla panchayat member Chandraprakash Shetty, M S Mohammed, former MLA Padmanabha Kottari, taluk panchayat vice-president Dinesh Amtoor, steering committee president Madhav Mave, Riyaz Hussein, and Kannada and culture director Mangala Nayak were present on the dais.
 
Kannada Development Authority member Vishnu Nayak delivered the introductory address. Taluk panchayat CEO Vasantraj Shetty welcomed the gathering. Sridar proposed the vote of thanks. Manju Vittal compered the programme.
 
Earlier, a colourful procession was held which depicted the rich folk culture of the region.