Academy takes up Tulu Padakosha project

Tulu Sahitya Academy president Janaki Brahmavar said the Academy is supporting mega work in Tulu—Tulu etymological dictionary (Tulu Jnati Padakosha), being taken up by four experts. 

Briefing reporters, she said Saigeetha, Ahoka Alva, Kamalaksha, and Padmanabha Kekunnaya have been working for the past few months on the etymological dictionary at Rashtrakavi Govinda Pai Research Centre in Udupi. It is a three year project and Nitte University is sponsoring the cost for the first year while the Academy will sponsor the two-year. The Academy has already set aside Rs 10 lakh for 2015-16. 

The expert team will find out Tulu words in seven other languages—Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam,  Kodava, Beary and Sali. All Tulu words found in atleast three other languages will be recorded. Its meanings in Kannada and English given. The word may have different meanings in different languages and these too will be recorded. The phonetic usage of words will also be mentioned, she added. 

Tulu film chamber

On Tulu film Chamber, she said the Academy will support the cause as it would encourage growth of the industry as well as Tulu language. A consultative meeting of Tulu film directors and producers is being convened shortly to discuss Tulu film Chamber.

She said Tulu Sahitya Academy will prepare a documentary on 13 persons highlighting their achievement in the field of Tulu language, literature, folklore, art, research.  The duration of documentary being 25 minutes.  

Tulu Bhavana

Janaki Brahmavar said work on ground floor of Tulu Bhavana has been completed. “Work on interiors have to be taken up. Academy has written to State government seeking Rs 25 lakh for work on interiors on the ground floor, so that Academy office can be shifted to the building.

Academy office is likely to be shifted to ground floor of Tulu Bhavana shortly. Mangalore University will start Tulu certificate, diploma and PG diploma courses. This will help to solve shortage of teachers for teaching Tulu in schools.