Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)  
Pic by Dayanand Kukkaje

Mangalore, Jan 31: The state Tulu Sahitya Academy organized an annual endowment lecture-cum- seminar on Tuesday January 29 in memory of the late M K Vijayalaxmi. A separate endowment fund has been kept aside in her name by her husband M K Ravindranath, a member of the academy.

A book namely 'Datti Upanayas' was released on the occasion. Ravindranath belongs to the Jain community.  

The theme of the seminar was 'Tulunadu Nudige Jainara Koduge.' As per the rules of the endowment fund every month two members from the community who have contributed towards promoting Tulu language, culture and society are honoured with the cash award.

This year the two recepients were Kumble Sundar Rao a Yakshagana exponent who has done a lot towards promoting Tulu culture and M Vishwanath a veteran writer/actor/director associated with Padmavati hospital, who too has written a lot in Tulu language. Both of them were honoured for their contribution to Tulu culture and language and presented cash awards by Prof A V Navada.  

On the occasion a quarterly magazine 'Madipu' was released. The chief guest on the occasion was Sharav Raghuvendra. The welcome speech was delivered by Dr Ganesh Amin Sangamar. The comperer of the function was Dr Ganesh Yakkar while the vote of thanks was proposed by S H Shivarudrappa, registrar of the Tulu Academy. Dr S D Shetty retired professor of Ujjire was also present.  

Academy president Seetaram Kulal speaking to Daijiworld said, "We are working very hard towards promoting Tulu language, culture and we have several plans in the offing for the future. On this occasion we solicit the unstinted support and co-operation of all the Tulu speaking people of the region."