News and pics: Rons Bantwal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai (EP)

Mumbai, Aug 3: “The struggle people are facing due to insufficient encouragement given to Tulu, their mothertongue is tragic. There are fifty lacs of people speaking Tulu in the world. Besides that lacs of people of Tulu origin have lived in Mumbai and have excelled in the world. Tulu language has its own identity. Tulu is an independent language. Its tradition, independent culture and history are unique when compared to other languages,” said Tulu language scholar professor Sripada Bhat of the department of English in Goa University.

He was delivering a special lecture in the series of lecturers No 7 on inclusion of Tulu language in the eighth chapter and challenges, jointly held by Rani Abbakka Tulu Research Center Bantwal and Kannada
department of the Mumbai University, here at the Mumbai University campus in Kalina on Saturday August 1.

The programme was presided by professor G N Upadhya, head of the department of Kannada at Mumbai University. Dayananda Bontra, honorary president of Tulu Sangha, Baroda was the chief guest. Professor
Tukaram Poojary of Rani Abbakka Tulu Research Center in Bantwal gave the keynote address.

Kannada Sahitya Parishat Maharastra unit president H B L Rao, Akshaya monthly magazine editor M B Kukyan, retired professor of Khalsa College, professor Sunitha M Shetty, Guruthu monthly magazine editor
Babu Shiva Poojary, All India Tulu Okkoota president Dharmapala U Devadiga and Kannadiga journalists association Maharastra president Chandrashekar Palethady participated in the discussion and gave their
opinions.

Dayananda Bontra speaking on the occasion said that there is a vast subject to discuss in front of him and that has become a challenge. Inclusion of Tulu language in the eighth chapter is not a small matter. The process however will be easy if there is love and respect for the language. If the scholars and politicians cooperate, it is possible.