Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, May 20: “Tulu language is being introduced as an optional subject in schools from this year. All the children from Tulunadu should opt to learn Tulu. The relationship between Tulu, Kannada and Telugu languages and the role these languages had played during the Vijayagara Empire should be researched,” said MP, D V Sadanand Gowda. He was speaking after inaugurating the two-day celebration of the 500th anniversary of Srikrishnadevaraya’s coronation at Ambalpady Lord Janardana and Goddess Mahakali Temple here on Wednesday May 19. 

Various programmes are being organized on the occasion, under the aegis of the local organizing committee of Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy and Kupppam Dravidian University.

Speaking after presiding over the inaugural of the national symposium organized on this occasion, Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy president, Dr Paltady Ramakrishna Achar, informed that a delegation of MPs from the state will approach the union home minister in September this year, to pressurize him to include Tulu in the eighth schedule of the Indian constitution. He said that the linguists from Germany, through research, have found Tulu to be 2,600 years old. He argued that this language suffered setbacks, as it was never made official language. Achar added, that the state home minister had promised to extend the Tulu teaching facility to all the schools in the state, if the scheme to teach it succeeds in the twin-districts.

Trustee of the temple, Dr Ni Bi Vijay Ballal, said that for conserving Tulu culture, Tulunadu has to be created within Kannada Nadu. Dr B S Shivakumar, head of the Tulu Studies department in Dravidian University, Kuppam, said that his university has been conducting teaching, research and publication of works in Tulu.

Tulu Academy registrar, Chandrahas Rai, was present. Bhaskar Rai Kukkuvalli presented the programme. Sarapady Ashok Shetty welcomed. Dr Gananath Yekkar delivered introductory address.