Academy to start drive to propel Tulu edn from April

Yakshagana training at Pompei High School soon, says Janaki Brahmavara

To propel Tulu education in primary and high schools, Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy is planning to conduct an awareness drive with the help of teachers and Block Education Officers in next April and May. The Academy has taken this step as a part of an awareness programme in the backdrop of lukewarm response to the language which has been introduced in the academics from Class six to SSLC.  

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy President M Janaki Brahmavara said that the Academy will discuss the practical problems which make Tulu not so attractive as a subject, in the annual general body meeting on October 18.

 “In government schools, the student belonging to nomadic families are more in number. They have nothing to do with Tulu and they are not ready to leave Hindi for Tulu. We can not teach it forcefully, it should be useful to them,” she said.

She said that Academy had sent an indent for 1000 textbooks each from Class 6 to Class 10 students in addition, a month back. The Karnataka Textbook Formulation Committee has sent 988 textbooks of Class 6, 1002 textbooks of Class 8 and 990 books of Class 9.

The Committee is yet to send textbooks for Class 7 and 10 sought in the new indent. There is no problem with the quality of textbooks, but there are few takers. Academy Member Prof Vedavathi started teaching Tulu as fourth language at Bikarnakatte School. However, she could not succeed in her effort.

Pompei HS stands out

Tulu has been introduced to SSLC in 2014-15. But, Pompei High School in Urwa is the only school to respond in the district where 18 students have adopted Tulu as third language instead of Hindi.

Headmaster Frank Hillary D’Souza took all the responsibilities of the students and convinced the parents.

“We had to put all our efforts to convince parents, taking all risks on our shoulders. The government provided 20 Tulu books. However, in high-level, officials don’t know much about Tulu. As we are the only school to teach Tulu in SSLC, it was tough task even to get the exam code,” he said.

“We are planning on training students in Yakshagana, especially those who have taken Tulu as a subject. Yakshagana artiste Dinakara Pachanady would start training at the earliest. For the purpose, we need a Tulu Chavadi in the school, just like various clubs of the school. Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy has assured of helping to constitute Tulu Chavadi,” the Headmaster said.

Academy President M Janaki Brahmavara hailed efforts of Frank Hillary D’Souza towards the development of Tulu language and culture. She said that it would be a record if all 18 students would write SSLC examination with Tulu as third language.
 She promised that Academy would help in starting Yakshagana training in the school.

Meanwhile, she said that Academy has started a certificate course on Tulu alphabet-literature, with UGC aid at Canara College in Mangalore. Prof Umanath Shenoy from S.D.M College Ujire will conduct this two semester course of 18 classes.

 Around 60 students have undergone the teachings already, she said.