Pics: Dayananda Kukkaje

Mangalore, Feb 3: ‘Tulu Sahithya Charithre’ a magnum opus focusing light on different aspects of Tulu language, history and culture, published jointly by Karnataka Tulu Sahithya Academy and Kannada University Hampi, was released at a grand function held at St Aloysius College auditorium here on Saturday.

Inaugurating the programme, former chief minister and national administrative reforms commission chairman M Veerappa Moily said that Tulu language had an important place among Dravidian languages. But the importance and richness of the language stayed hidden throughout the history as the language was deprived of royal patronage.

However, in modern times due to the awareness among the Tulu people, the language started blooming again with its fragrance spreading all over, Moily felt.

Referring to the debate regarding the influence of globalisation on local languages and cultures, Moily said: “Globalisation has two faces. One will leave adverse impact on our culture and traditions. But the other will provide an opportunity for us to grow at the world level. The need of the hour is working in the direction of taking our rich heritage to the global level”, he said.

Regretting the depiction of the legendary emperor of Vijayanagar Sri Krishnadevaraya as a person of Andhra origin, Moily said Krishnadevaraya was not a Telugu, but the son of Tulu Nadu. This was the reason why his dynasty was named Taulava Vamsha.

Speaking on the occasion, veteran writer and folklore scholar Amrutha Someshwara said the 1,138 page book contains 101 write-ups on different subjects related to Tulu Nadu. These articles were free from emotional magnification and comprise of objective thoughts.

Apart from the articles written by late scholars like Manjeshwar Govinda Pai, Shivaram Karanth, KS Haridas Bhat, William Madtha, US Paniyadi and others, the book contains researched writings by today’s scholars.

While 14 articles were devoted to Tulu history, structure of the language and its relations with other tongues, 34 write-ups discuss its various characteristics. While 26 articles shed light on Tulu folklore and culture, 15 discuss literary forms, he said.

Terming the book as a valuable contribution to the scholarly world and Dravidian culture, he said it was amazing to note that a small geographical unit like Tulu Nadu was so rich and diverse in matters of culture, history and literature.

Speaking on the occasion, Mangalore University vice-chancellor KM Kaveriappa requested the Kannada University authorities to take up the task of publishing a similar volume on Kodava language and culture.

“Though there is a centre for research in Kodava, work is not going on expected level. More justice would be done to the language and culture if institutes like Kannada University takes up the job”, he said.