Students prefer Hindi to Tulu as third language

Panel refuses to print 17,000 textbooks, as dept sends indent very late

The administrative limitations, poor response of Tuluvas and official apathy has resulted in a setback in introducing Tulu language in primary and secondary schools in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district for the year 2012-13. Incidentally, it was an ambitious plan of the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy. 

Speaking to Deccan Herald, District Deputy Director for Public Instruction (DDPI) Moses Jayashekar said the department had sought approximately 17,000 Tulu textbooks for 6th, 7th and 8th standard students. “The plan was to introduce Tulu as an additional language (4th language). But the Karnataka Textbook Formulation Committee could not afford another huge indent after printing several thousand Hindi books. So the committee clearly said that it could have printed Tulu books as a third language instead of Hindi, but not as an additional language as it would create problem during auditing,” he added.

‘We had a chance’

Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy President Umanatha A Kotyan said that there was a possibility of getting Tulu books printed if officials were quick enough in sending proper indent. For example, the Sullia Block Education Officer had sent an indent to Karnataka Text book Formulation Committee for 200 text books in advance and they have received the books, he said.

Kotyan agrees that this year the Academy won’t get Tulu textbooks from the government. Many schools have old textbooks for 6th and 7th standard and they can make use of them. For the students of the 8th standard, the Academy will print and distribute books according to the available funds. “This problem should not repeat next year. So we will send new indent in advance for next year. I have written letter to every BEO, asking their cooperation,” he added.

Meanwhile, Academy Registrar Chandrahas Rai requested the teachers to give exact data about the requirement of books. “The students who want to study Tulu as third language instead of Hindi would be considered,” he said and added that in some schools, the need may be nil, but information should be correct.”

What next?

DDPI Moses Jayashekar said that most of the schools in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi have Hindi as third language (especially government schools) and the students are not ready to drop Hindi for Tulu. “There was a similar clash between Kannada and English, but English has edge over Tulu as it has professional benefits unlike Tulu. So, the response is not so impressive from students,” he added.