DHNS

Mangalore May 12: The folk art and artistes are not enjoying the desirable position in the present times due to the onslaught of modernisation. If the tradition which reflects the essence of land should be preserved, people must encourage it throughout. It will not suffice if just a section of a community follow the tradition, but it should receive wide encouragement, said Govind Pai Research Centre Researcher Dr M Ashok Alva.

Speaking at the felicitation function, K Ramaiah Shetty and Bhavani R Shetty commemoration programme and Smt Vedavathi G Shetty Endowment Lecture held at Tulu Chavadi on Friday, he said celebrations of Tulunadu like Kheddase, Bonte and Parba have a profound meaning behind it. However, these traditions are slowly waning out of everyday practice though certain programmes like aati and kheddase are symbolically celebrated, he explained.

Dr Alva advised that programmes should be organised for children so that culture is inculcated in them. Since the trend of summer camps, coaching camps and early admissions to schools have caught up among people, children loose the opportunity to get in contact with their culture. Hence the folk games like ‘lagori’ are becoming extinct, he lamented.

Local culture must be preserved before welcoming globalisation, he said adding that there is a necessity to preserve traditions in order to preserve values of life.

Tulu Koota (Udupi) President Dr Bhaskarananda Kumar said Janapada Sangeeta Prashasti and Tulu drama competitions are organised for students so that awareness is created regarding Tulu culture among children. It will not suffice if Tulu books are published, but there should be enough readers. Hence Tulu should reach every house, he added.

Surathkal former MLA K Vijaykumar Shetty said the efforts being made by the Academy to include Tulu as a language in schools is commendable. Tulu should never become extinct and if Tuluvas work unitedly, it can be preserved, he commented.

Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy President M K Seetharam Kulal said a CD library with CDs on folk art, folkgames, bhootakola and other Tulu traditions will be opened in the proposed Tulu Bhavana along with Tulu museum and chavadi. The CD library will help promote culture in Tulunadu as well as outside the State, he said. Tulu Academy is faced with difficulties in appointing a new registrar for the Academy as well as in introducing Tulu as a language in schools, Mr Kulal enumerated.

Tulu Koota (Udupi) President Bhaskaranand Kumar and Tulu Koota (DK district) President Damodar Nisarga were felicitated on the occasion. Vedavathi G Shetty, Gananath Yekkar and Ganesh Sankamar were present.