Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jun 8: The efforts of Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy and others in convincing Mangalore University to introduce Tulu as an optional language for undergraduate students from this academic year have proved successful. As the academic year is set to begin shortly, there is a hurry to get things done.

President of the academy, A C Bhadary, said that the university has permitted study of Tulu as an optional language with emphasis on studying the language and its culture. The course would be run in association with the academy. Bhandary said that heads of a few colleges have evinced interest in introducing Tulu studies. For introducing this language, heads of colleges under the university, which are located in Dakshina Kannada, Kodagu and Udupi districts, have to take permission from the university before introducing the study of Tulu. The students who choose Tulu as an optional language get to study the language, its literature and culture in an formal, orderly manner. Bandary expects this initiative to prove to be a big boost for the language.

Syllabus for Tulu study has already been framed by a syllabus committee headed by chairman of the board of studies, department of Kannada, Shivaram Shetty. Bhandary is hopeful of supplying text books to students promptly. He has urged everyone to support Tulu language by opting to study Tulu.

Registrar (administration) of the university, A M Khan, said that colleges which want to offer Tulu as a subject have to mention the same when furnishing details for annual affiliation process. He said that about five colleges have already indicated about their intention to impart Tulu study from this academic year onward. He also said that the syllabus for this course has already been approved.