Media Release
New Delhi, Jul 12: Tulu Mahasabhe, which has been striving for centuries to protect the Tulu language, culture, and community rights, has nominated Prakash Shetty Ulepady as the convener of its New Delhi unit. This new appointment is expected to invigorate the struggle to include the Tulu language in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Tulu organizations at state, national, and international levels have welcomed this appointment.
Tulu Mahasabhe, founded in 1928 under the leadership of veteran Tilakwadi S U Paniady, is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Tulu language, culture, traditions, and the rights of Tuluvas. As it approaches its centenary, the organization is expanding its scope of work in various areas such as Kalari training (martial arts, traditional healing) in Tulu Nadu, revival of fading Daiva Aradhanas (spirit worship), re-establishment of Tuluveshwara Temple, fostering linguistic-religious-caste harmony, and environmental protection.
Prakash Shetty Ulepady has been actively involved in the fields of art, literature, oratory, media, education, and digital technology. He has authored stories, poems, and plays in Tulu and has been a regular contributor to newspapers such as Daijiworld, Udayavani, Vijaya Karnataka, Prajavani, Samyukta Karnataka, Hosa Diganta, and Karnataka Malla. A computer science graduate, he has served as a lecturer at prestigious institutions like Alva's College (Moodbidri), Pompeii College (Aikala), and Manipal Institute of Computer Education. He has also strengthened rural digital literacy by conducting computer literacy programs in cities like Mangaluru, Udupi, Shivamogga, and Davanagere.
Professionally settled in Delhi for the past 18 years, he currently serves as a senior director in the art division of the Trade Promotion Council of India. His roles at Planman Media, Dreamworks Media, TCG Media, Maxposure Media, and The Sunday Indian weekly have given him a distinct identity in the media field. The website Prakashaka.com, which he founded in 2004, served as a platform for Tulu-Kannada news. Through the Tulu Channel (youtube.com/@TuluChannel) YouTube channel, he has played a significant role in the global dissemination of Tulu linguistic heritage. As an active member of Karnataka Sangha in Delhi and joint secretary of the Tulu Siri organization, he continuously strives to organize Tulu-Kannada cultural activities. His genuine service-mindedness and organizational skills are important factors supporting his appointment.
Under Prakash Shetty's leadership, the campaign to include the Tulu language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution will gain further momentum in Delhi. The central committee of the Mahasabhe has expressed confidence that several cultural programmes will also be organized to instill language love and cultural awareness among the youth.