'Lack of research leading to marginalisation of Tulu'

Folk scholar Dr Gananath Ekkar said that a lack of interest in the research on Tulu literature among researchers has resulted in the marginalisation of Tulu language.

Delivering the keynote address at Polali Sheenappa Hegde Award-2017 organised by Rastrakavi Govind Pai Research Centre, the professor said that students are veering away from Tulu language and research activities. The research activity on Tulu language is dormant, he said.

Maintaining that Tulu language was extensively promoted by scholars from abroad, especially during 1876-1900, Ekkar said that  the scholars from the soil continued the legacy following inspiration from foreign scholars. “The language received some prominence only during 80s and 90s. An inferiority complex attached to Tulu language made researchers stay away from taking up research on Tulu literature. This complex has plagued the language for the past 800-900 years,” he said.

Asserting that Kannada language is the strength and weakness of Tulu language, the folk scholar said that Kannada poses as a strength for Tulu language as it offers a disciplined structure for research on Tulu language but its independent streak has rendered the language weak. “Further, Kannada is an administrative language and a medium of instruction. All these factors ensured that Tulu’s growth remained immature,” he said.

He said research centres like Regional Research Centre and Rastrakavi Govind Pai Research Centre contributed immensely towards the growth of Tulu language by promoting research on Tulu.

The ideological and philosophical research was initiated, wherein both foreign and local researchers were encouraged and also joined hands to bring about valuable research output. An accurate methodology was followed. He said that research in Tulu folk area had immensely contributed to research on Kannada folk language. He added that the culture should be narrated in the process of taking up the study on culture.

Stating that although there are few outstanding research works in Tulu language, the scholar said almost all the research is taken up in Tulu folklore and not in Tulu literature. A lack of research studied on Tulu language has failed to convince the importance of Tulu language for the masses, he said.

Tulu Peetha in the offing

He stressed upon a need for academic studies on Tulu literature. He lamented that Mangalore University has failed to promote Tulu language. It should have had set up regional languages study centres, especially Tulu and Beary languages. The University has also failed to promote research on Tulu language. He added that Manipal University is planning to set up Tulu Peetha.

He also urged Regional Research Centre and Govind Pai Research Centre to take up programmes to attract youths to indulge in  research on Tulu language, especially literature. The students should work on Tulu language and literature, he reiterated.

Tulu language folk writer and researcher Dr Indira Hegde was honoured with the Polali Sheenappa Hegde Award-2017. She said that a sense of dedication was the only requirement for studying folk art.

“The translation of Tulu language is difficult as it is an independent language. The folk tradition of Tulunadu, especially Bootharadhane, is becoming extinct. The matricidal society followed by the people descending from Tulunadu culture, exists to a certain extent but needs it be further strengthened,” she said.