Words of Wisdom from World Tulu Convention

Mangalore Today

 

Keynote address of Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade

“Tulunadu has a grand history of over two thousand years. Tulu means softness which has become an inseparable quality of this land. Tuluvas’ belief in the daivas represents their loyalty for the Truth. The agriculture-based culture has become the life style of Tuluvas since time immemorial; but unfortunately the very agriculture-based way of life has been badly hit owing to several factors in the current era. The government should take all the necessary steps to declare support price for the areca”, said Dr. D Veerendra Heggade in his keynote address during the inaugural ceremony of the World Tulu Conference here.

Drawing the attention of the government towards the poor condition of the roads in the Tulunadu, Dr. Heggade demanded immediate repair of the roads. He also did not forget to mention the “unprecedented” support the World Tulu Conference has been getting.

 

Government to stand as a backbone for all Tulu related activities

“According to the recent UNESCO report Tulu is one amongst the dying languages. So the efforts like the World Tulu Conference indeed helps in preserving the rich culture and heritage of Tulunadu. So hereby on be half of the Government I assure to support all the Tulu related activities that are taken up by the Tulu Academy”, said the Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa.

He addressed the gathering after inaugurating the World Tulu Confrence here in Ujire. Expressing his pleasure to be a part of the huge event he commended the Tulu people for their contribution to the world of literature, religion, culture, business and transaction.

“Tulu language is spoken by nearly 75 lakhs of population, yet the percentage of Tulu speaking populace is reducing gradually. Therefore the Government is ready to take initiatives whole heartedly to add Tulu as one of the learning language in the primary and high school level”, he assured.

Let Tulu become the official language: Dr. B. A Vivek Rai

The second day of the World Tulu Conference began with the inauguration of all the sessions by Visiting Professor of the Mac Millions University, Germany, Dr. B. A. Vivek Rai at 9.30 am on the main stage. The inaugural address of Dr. Rai concentrated on origin and development of Tulu language.

In his inaugural address Dr. Rai emphasized on the need for making Tulu the official language in Tulunadu. “Many of the villagers in Tulunadu can speak only in Tulu which makes them unable to speak in the Panchayat meetings that often employs Kannada as a medium to exchange the thoughts. Thus the voices of the countless villagers go unheard” Dr. Rai observed.

“Tulu literature is within us. I write using such very common words in Tulu” Dr. Rai said adding that Tulu should soon show its presence on the internet.
Let Tulu language become a world-language, Dr. Rai hoped.

 

Don’t cry over Tulu for having no script: Dr. U. P. Upadhyaya

“The most popular languages like English and Hindi themselves have no script of their own and yet they survive, so there is no necessity for the Tulu Pundits to make fuss on Tulu language for having no script”, said Dr.U.P.Upadhyaya, Chief Editor of Tulu Dictionary.

While talking on the concept called Present Scenario of Tulu Language in the first session of World Tulu Conference Dr.Upadhyaya said that Tulu language has the potentiality to be included in the category of Classical languages. “Tulu language is very unique compared to any other Indian languages as the verbs used in Tulu are quite informal in nature. Keeping in mind the quality and usage of this language Karnataka Government must declare Tulu as second official language of the State”, he urged.

 

Stay Rooted: Sunil Shetty

“Whereever I may go I have not forgotten my roots and mother tongue “Tulu”. Our rich culture and language will always help us to grow and prosper. In the same manner we should also strive to preserve our rich culture and language” opined Sunil Shetty. And the famous Kannada senior actress Leelavathi said “It seems that the whole world has assembled in Ujire because of Dr. Veerendra Heggade initiative for the development and the preservatioin of rich Tulu culture” on the occassion of Tulu Conference Cultural Programme inaugaration for the second day.

Paddhana has a lively image: Prof. A. V. Navada

In the session on Tulu Literature: Origin and Present Scenario, Hampi Kannada University retired Professor A V Navada shared his viewpoints on Tulu literature in the past.

“It would be a mental burden if those Tuluvas who know Kannada start learning

Prof Navada said: “One has to protect the present Paddhana and Tulu poetry to nurture the creativity in Tulu language. Paddhana is not a mere recitation of Tulu poems; rather it has a lively image that keeps changing with the time”.

 

Tulu is as serious a language as Sanskrit : Dr. Padekallu Vishnu Bhat

“Tulu is as serious a language as Sanskrit. Tulu literature has a history of over 500-700 years” said Hiriyadke Government First Grade College Principal Dr. Padekallu Vishnu Bhat. He was addressing the gathering on the topic ‘Recitation of Tulu epics’ during the session on Cultural Demonstrations. Dr. Vishnu Bhat said that Tulu language has published literature and this has been proved by Venkataraja Puninchitaya.

In the same session Dr.K.P.Putturaya , Literateur from Bangalore spoke about ‘The beauty of Tulu as a language’. The word ‘Tuluva’ does not suggest just a community but denotes the culture, nature and life style of this community, he observed.

 

The 3rd day of the world Tulu conference’s fourth session concentrated on the issue such as ‘Education, Theater and Media’. Dr. Abhaykumar, Professor, Kannada Adhyayana Vibhaga, Mangalore University spoke on educational dealt with these aspects and covered issue such as development of Tulu language as a medium of instruction in educational field.

‘Schools, Colleges and Universities should make Tulu language as a medium of instruction. Tulu Research Centre should be created in all the major Universities and it should be given an Official language status’ said Dr. Abhaykumar. He also spoke about Basel Missions role in promoting Tulu language as a medium of instruction and in the field of Tulu literature.. Discussing about the three phases in the development of Tulu literature he appreciated the attempt of first Tulu dictionary compiled by Basil Mission.

In the first phase the role of Basil mission’s initiative in collection and reconstruction of Tulu literature is of great importance. The second phase dealt with the usage and the role of Tulu language in creating awareness about the freedom struggle. At the third phase many researchers started doing research work on the subject such as Tulu literarature and culture,’ he explained and gave credit to many researchers such as Vivek Rai, Upadhyaya, Navada and many more who have contributed to Tulu literature.

 

Think globally, Act locally: Eshwara Daithota

Second part of fourth session was chaired by Shri Eshwar Daithota, Editor, Times of India Kannada Daily, and Bangalore. This session dealt with issues such as Media and globalization. He discussed about the global effects on the media and how it would effect democracy on the whole. Explaining Tulunadu’s total media development, its past and present scenario; he also discussed about the latest technological developments and how these sophisticated technologies has made possible media convergence in India.

Local or regional development is very important for the survival of democracy and the Journalism literally started out of conversational language. We should feel proud that Kannada Journalism itself started in Tulunadu by the initiative of Basil mission. Think globally, Act locally. Tulu language has great potentialities and many Tulunadu journalists are famous for their honesty and integrity. Through the establishment of Community Radio’s and using the Tulu language in the media can make the real development possible’ he stressed.

challenges of Tulu filmmaking: Shri I.K. Boluvvar

The third part of fourth session dealt with Theatre and Cinema by Shri I.K. Boluvvar, Theatre director, Puttur. Explaining the difficulties and challenges of filmmaking, he took the example of the Manipuri Cinema, its growth and success. He stressed filmmakers have to introspect their works and those who want to make a movie in the regional languages should closely observe the bonding of Theatre, its growth with the cinema’

 

Agriculature based life style is disappearing: Dr. K. Chinnappa Gowda

The fifth session concentrated on the World Tulu Conference concentrated on the shifting culture. Dr. K. Chinnappa Gowda, Registrar, Mangalore University. Tulu Culture consists of varities of integral parts. Due to urbanization and other constraining factors, cultivation lands are turning into the fields of plantations. Agriculature based life style is disappearing. More than 60 kinds of traditional practices and 50 types of folk games are in the stage of perishing. This is a huge loss to our Tulu culture, he lamented.

To preserve and to promote the rich cultural heritage, the present generation should strive to pass on the unique tradition to the generation next, he stressed.

Prof Tukaram Poojary, President of Tulu Adhyayana Academy speaking on this occasion, on the theme shift in occupation, ‘Indian agro based products is very famous in world market. The ancient Varna system was a unique feature of Indian traditional society, where caste and occupation was interlinked and this actually helped the society to function efficiently. Modern education and modernization has brought about the change in the recent occupational patterns. Though it is inevitable to this age, we have to re-evaluate our Tulu culture and ideologies’ he said.

 

 

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