Media Release
Florida (USA), Nov 27: The Global Alliance of Tulu Association (GATA) celebrated the closing of its Tulu lipi course, ‘Gelmeda Les’, on November 22, marked by the launch of its official website www.globaltuluva.com. The website offers Tulu learning tools, transliteration features, cultural resources, dictionaries, and a global platform for the Tuluva community.
GATA, founded by Shreevalli Rai Martell, works to preserve and promote Tulu culture worldwide, striving for recognition of Tulu as Karnataka’s second language and its inclusion in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
The ceremony was graced by Dr Satheesh Kumar Bhandary, vice president and former vice-chancellor of Nitte University, and Bhaskar Sherigar, founder president of AATA, and presided over by Shreevalli Rai Martell.
Chief guest Dr Bhandary, also a student of GATA Tulu Lipi class, spoke on Tulu’s divine essence, historical inscriptions, and the need to revive the script.
Another chief Guest Bhaskar Sherigar highlighted the antiquity of Tulu and released the student project book ‘Kangana’.
In her heartfelt presidential address, Shreevalli Rai highlighted the new website’s features, expressed pride in the students, and celebrated their confident Tulu Lipi reading and writing skills.
Students, including Rachna Vishwanath (Sydney), Rashmi Bhat (Singapore), Shobha Suresh (Moodbidri), Sabita Shetty (Bengaluru), Yashodha Hosabettu (Singapore), Bhujanga Devasa (Singapore), Shalini Anand Shetty (Bengaluru), Udaya Kumar Shetty (Bengaluru), Akash (Bombay), Neel Arun Kumar (United Kingdom), Saraswathi Shetty (Mangaluru), and Shantaram V Shetty (Bengaluru), shared reflections and showcased their talents.
The ceremony was thoughtfully coordinated by the Tulu lipi teachers, with a prayer by Shubhashri K M (Bengaluru), a welcome by Dr. Saritha Arun (UK), and guest introductions by D K Shetty (Bombay), Shrutha Shetty (UK), and Prabhakar Bhat (Boston), moderated by Chandrahasa Shetty (Oman) and emcee by Suresh Poonja (Sydney).
The event concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks by Shantaram V Shetty, marking a successful and memorable celebration of the Tulu language and culture.