Media Release

Udupi, Oct 18: Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), in collaboration with the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy, held the concluding ceremony of its conversational Tulu course at Sarvodaya Hall on October 16.

Udupi additional deputy commissioner Abid Gadyal, the guest of honour, said ‘the recognition is an honour for Tulu language as well as the culture. He said the decision would support efforts to preserve and promote Tulu, which UNESCO classifies as a vulnerable language. Teaching conversational Tulu was an important part of that effort, he added.

Jayakara Shetty, the president of Tulukoota, Udupi, said the recognition had created a favourable environment for introducing and developing Tulu in educational institutions.

Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy president Taranatha Gatty Kapikad said the recognition reflected sustained efforts to preserve Tulu language and literature, dating back to the Basel Mission era.

Presiding over the programme, Prof Gayathri Prabhu, director, Manipal institute of social sciences, humanities and Arst, said MISHA placed special importance on the study of local languages and cultures at a time when they were receiving greater attention in academia.

Writer Dr Nikethana, Tulu Academy registrar Poornima, member-convener Santosh Shetty Hiriyadka and CKRL coordinator Dr Prithviraj Kavatharu were present. Tulu speaking course participants Bhagyajyothi, Simon Thomas, Abhyuday and Manasa S presented a Tulu play. Lt Col Raghavendra M K, Dr Anand V, Shreeraksha Bhandarkar and Sumit Kumar were among those who shared their experiences about the course.

Ashna Shetty welcomed the gathering, Suvarna offered the prayer, and Dr Mathangi Kumar compered the programme.