It is indeed a historical day for Tuluvas as Kerala Tulu Academy has finally become a reality. As a rectification for its faulty policies adapted aganist the Kasargod Tuluvas, the Kerala Government has taken a step towards nurturing Tulu language and culture by approving Tulu Academy in Kasargod.

Basically, Kasargod belongs to Tulunadu. But after unification, Kannada culture got torn apart and the majority Tulu speaking population were left nowhere.

Especially the Kasargod Tuluvas were the most neglected. After Kasargod was politically included in Kerala, the Kasargod Tuluvas developed a deep sense of love and emotional attachment towards Karnataka.  Fighting for their rights to safeguard their language, the Tuluvas forgot their mother tongue.

Tuluvas are said to be so. They lost the ownership of their own land for various reasons and this later happened to be the major reason for the advent of outsiders in  Tulunadu and decline of Tulunadu and Tulu language.

Over the years, several changes took over and the Kasargod Ballal’s house became the Malayali ‘Tharavadu’. Kodot Tharavadu is a small example for this change. Soon Tulunadu became victim of the advent of Ikkeri Nayakas. Ikkeri Nayakas who had one aim, that is, victory soon overpowered local rulers.

The Ikkeri Nayakas prolifered till Neeleshwara and installed a victory tower at Kavvaihole. With the Nayakas growing powerful in the region their influence was quite evident on Tulu language.

After Nayakas, Tippu came, followed by the British. After Independence, Kasargod came under the Madras Province and later states were formed on linguistic basis.

From Ikkeri Nayakas during 17th century to Madras Province rule in 19th century and then unification, from stage to stage Tulu language and Tuluvas became victim of cultural change.

After 50 years of unification, the Kerala government has finally decided to rectify the wrong policy it has maintained for long by forming the Tulu Academy here so that Tulu language and Tuluvas can maintain, restore and revive their language and culture.

Suresh Edanadu