JOIN US'Give importance to Tulu culture too'
The need to learn cultural and social history of Tulunadu along with its political history was strongly propagated at ‘Tuluva Aisiri,’ a two-day conference on analysing historical developments of Tulunadu and language, at Kadri temple premises on Saturday.
The programme is jointly organised by Kadri Manjunatha temple, Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy and Mangalore University History Lecturers Association-’Maanusha.’
Inaugurating the conference, Alva’s Education Foundation Chairman Dr M Mohan Alva said that there is a need to study the cultural history of Tulunadu as the land is culturally and socially rich. Though the political history of Tulunadu is well researched and documented, the cultural aspects too should be given equal importance, he said.
Expressing unhappiness over the government for not extending support for the development of Tulu language, he said Tulu language has not yet been added in the VIII Schedule of the Indian Constitution which shows lack of government support. A language and culture could be developed only when the government has a cultural policy, he observed.
Delivering presidential address, Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor Prof T C Shivashankaramurthy too felt the need to explore the history of common people, of the suppressed class, Dalits, women and labourers along with the study of political history.
Paddana and Tulu history
Addressing a session on ‘Oral tradition and Tulu history,’ Moodbidri Dhavala College History lecturer Dr Pundikai Ganapaiah Bhat spoke about using Paddana as an alternative source of information to collect Tulu history along with the conventional method.
“Though the objectivity of narration of stories in Paddanas can not be completely banked up on, they can be used a reference material as they provide supplementary source of information which needs to be cross-verified. Unfortunately, no history scholar except B S Saletthur has so far made an effort to write the culture of Tulunadu by analysing Paddanas,” he said.
Citing a few Paddanas, he said none of the Paddanas communicate any information about the rulers from outside like Keladi and Vijayanagara kings who invaded Tulunadu, but they mention about the local rulers and aristocrats like Ballal and Hegade.
It purely shows how the people then were highly indifferent towards the politics of the land. Paddanas also contribute to a great extent in communicating historical geography in the form narrating the distance and routes of Tulunadu, he said.
Delivering a talk on ‘the milestones of Tulunadu history,’ Poorna Prajna College History Department Head Dr Jagadish Shetty said some of the inscriptions give details about the important political developments in Tulunadu that occurred centuries ago.
The rule of Alupa kings for over 800 years, invasion of Cholas, Hoysalas and Vijayanagara kings on Tulunadu and the way the powerful local rulers retaliated against them are some of the milestones in the history of Tulunadu. Tulunadu has witnessed several outside rulers invading the region, said the professor.
Retired professor from SDM College, Ujire Dr Y Umanath Shenoy spoke about ‘cultural contribution of Samanatharasa for Tulunadu.’ Veteran historian A Sundar mediated the session.