Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Jan 15: Kerala Chief Minister (CM), Achutanandan, has promised to sanction funds for the construction of Tulu Bhavan. This assurance came from him, when addressing the ‘Desoda Tulu Jatre’ organized at the ground of Paivalike school on Friday January 14.

The fact that the CM uttered the first sentence of his address in Tulu came in for lot of appreciation from the audience. The welcome address in Malayalam by local MLA, C H Kunhambu, whose support had led to the setting up of Tulu Academy, was also appreciated by the people with thunderous applause. State revenue minister, K P Rajendran, in his address, said that the Tulu Academy has been set up for preserving the culture of Tulu Nadu, which had given birth to illustrious heroes like Koti Chennaya and Devu Punja. He said he got attracted towards Tulu after participating in Tulu Utsav organized earlier in Thiruvananthapuram. He recalled that he had been an associate of Tuluvas, Dr Subba Rao, who was a minister, and former Manjeshwar MLA, M Ramappa Master.

Bantwal MLA, B Ramanath Rai, expressed his happiness at the organization of Tulu festival here. He noted that Kasargod, a part of Kerala physically, continues to be a part of Karnataka culturally. He recalled that the late Ramanna Rai and Rama Rai, who were Tuluvas, had been elected as MPs, and the late Kallige Mahabal Bhandary was the first Tuluva MLA in Kerala assembly. He also recalled that last year, Tulu Sammelan had been organized in Ujire on a grand scale.

Various organizations and institutions from Mangalore, Uppinangady, Udupi, Bantwal etc., had organized exhibition of books, CDS, etc, at the festival. An exhibition on Tulu culture and the achievements of the government came in for special praise.

A colourful procession accompanied by cultural troupes from various parts, was taken from Kayarkatte in Paivalike to the venue of the festival. The procession also comprised a large number of people speaking Kannada, Marathi, Urdu and Malayalam, besides Tulu.