“Tulu language and culture must be saved and the academy must work in this direction. Any help that the academy needs from the government will be provided,” assured Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan addressing the gathering after inaugurating the Kerala Tulu Academy on Monday at Hosangadi, Manjeshwara.

Mr Achuthanandan said that most of the Tulu literary works are found in Kannada script, though a Tulu script has been discovered recently.

Hence, Tulu script must be popularised and the task of republishing the Tulu literary works in tulu script must be taken up.

Mr Achuthanandan suggested that Kerala Tulu Academy must work together with the Karnataka Tulu Academy to bring into Tulu language in schools and Kerala government must hold a open outlook towards this.

Presiding over the programme, Kerala Education and Culture Minister M A Baby said that today’s generation has to survive amidst the global culture scenario and in this situation everyone must invariably safeguard their culture and tradition.

Central Administrative Reforms Commission Chairman M Veerappa Moily said that with the Kerala Tulu Academy coming into existance, Tulu has the pride of being the only language that has academies in two different states.

Dakshina Kannada District-in-Charge Minister B Nagaraj Shetty said that the academies in both the states must toil collaboratively to bring Tulu in the 8th schedule of the Constitution.

Kerala Government has laid foundation for the growth of Tulu language and culture by building Tulu Academy in Kerala thereby providing a sigh of relief to the Tulu speaking population residing in Kasargod who have led a life of insecurity of drifting away from their own language and culture so far.

It is Majeshwara MLA C H Kunhambu, who vehemently persuaded the cause of building the Academy and with a funding of Rs 20 lakh, shaped the Tulu Academy.

TULU UTSAV

On the occasion, the fragnance of Tulu folklore spread across as people from various Tuluva communities brought in glimpses of many traditional folk art and folk dances to enthrall the audience.

After the stage programme a special programme called ‘Tulu Utsav’ was held in which various folk arts of Tulunadu such as ‘Madira’, ‘Pardana’, ‘Chennu Nalike’, ‘Sona Jogi’, ‘Atikalanja’, ‘Gondolu Nrithya’, childrens’ Thalamaddale etc were held.