Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (NJC)

Mangaluru, Oct 6: The Dakshina Kannada District Congress Publicity Committee organised a brainstorming meeting (Chintana Sabhe) in Mangaluru on Tuesday, October 5 to discuss the effective implementation of the State government’s decision to grant administrative recognition to the Tulu language.

The meeting, held on the theme ‘Administrative Recognition for Tulu Language and the Path Ahead’, brought together Tulu scholars, writers, language activists and Congress leaders to discuss the challenges and possible measures for giving Tulu a stronger role in administration and public life.

District Congress Publicity Committee president Denis D'Silva said recognition was only the first step and stressed the need for its effective implementation. He said suggestions from scholars, language activists and the public would be compiled and submitted to the State government.

Tulu scholar and litterateur Bennett G Ammanna stressed the need to preserve Tulu’s rich linguistic and cultural heritage. He said Tulu belonged to people across communities and called for greater efforts to protect its literature, script and historical records.

He also highlighted the importance of studying and preserving Tulu inscriptions, copper plates, palm-leaf manuscripts and other historical materials, besides creating better facilities for research and learning the Tulu script.

Scholar and speaker Prabhakar Neermarga said the government's recognition of Tulu was a historic and welcome development. He stressed that the language could survive only if it continued to be used in everyday life.

He said Tulu language and culture were closely linked with the region's agricultural traditions, customs, rituals, Yakshagana and other folk practices. He expressed concern over the gradual disappearance of traditional Tulu words and cultural practices and urged people, particularly the younger generation, to actively use and preserve the language.

The speakers emphasised that administrative recognition should go beyond a government announcement and result in the actual use of Tulu in public life, education, cultural activities and official communication.

KPCC Publicity Committee coordinator Sudhir Kumar Murolli, District Mahila Congress president S Appi, DCC vice-president Subodhaya Alva, Block Congress president Abdul Saleem, former corporator Mohammed Nawaz, corporator Keshava and Mangaluru South Constituency Publicity Committee president Ramananda Poojary, among others, were present.