Tulu to be introduced in degree courses next yr

Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy President A C Bhandary said Tulu language would be made an optional subject for the degree courses from the next academic year.

He was speaking after inaugurating ‘Tulu Isiri-2019’, cultural festival, organised by Karnataka Tulu Academy in association with Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College.

Bhandary said the Academy had decided to make Tulu language as an optional subject along with other languages in the degree courses for the students. "The textbooks for the degree courses are being prepared and will be available for the next academic year."

He added that 617 students last year and 620 students in the current academic year had taken Tulu as a third language in SSLC examination. The postgraduate course--MA in Tulu was started in Mangaluru last year and 20 will have their master degree in Tulu language next year.

Bhandary said although English should be studied, the culture should not be adopted. There is need for the knowledge of English. He lamented that Tulu was not supported initially which hindered the growth of the language. However, the scenario is improving and the people who were ignorant about the language are now trying to learn the language.

He also emphasised on the need for the inclusion of Tulu in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. He said that there are 1.8 crore people who speak Tulu language. All attempts should be made to conserve the rich culture and tradition of the language and also the youth should be made to understand the importance of Tulu language.

Elaborating over the works taken up by Tulu Academy to promote the language, Bhandary said that the activities pertaining to Tulu language and culture would be taken up in schools and colleges. The translations of the well-known works in Tulu language to other languages are also taken up which would help in the survival of the language, he said.

Scholar Kallur Nagesh said that Tulunadu was rich in terms of cultural and traditional heritage. The legacy of the language dates back to ages and the study on the language should comprise scientific and exploratory research to understand the intricacies in-depth, he added.

Tulu Koota President Jayakar Shetty Indrali said the results in SSLC was improving after the students started learning Tulu as third language.