Kudla police into Tulu study to be better combat crime

Kudla police into Tulu study to be better combat crime

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, June 20, 2016: People arriving in coastal district from other districts of Karnataka feel they are in a void if they cannot converse in the local dialect, Tulu. For police personnel, who have to deal in local scenarios it is more difficult.

Realising this from his own experiences where he had faced difficulty while conversing,  City police commissioner, M Chandra Sekhar, who is serving in the city from the past six months has taken an initiative to teach basic Tulu to the lower rung of his force. " At least 35-40 per cent of our men have no knowledge  of Tulu when they are posted here. To make one feel at home for anyone who approaches police here in coastal Karnataka, knowing Tulu makes a big difference in good governance. So, it is planned to conduct 10-days of classes on Tulu language," he said. Mangaluru police commissionerate has about 1,150 police personnel.

The idea of teaching Tulu turned into reality when he visited the University College in Hampankatta and put forth a casual proposal to the lecturers. Udayakumar Irvathur, college principal who readily accepted it, drew up a ten day plan of teaching Tulu to the police and the same has  commenced.  Yatish, a commerce lecturer is the convener of the coaching class. Vishwanatha Badikana and Kishore Kumar Sheni are tutors.

Commissioner Chandra Sekhar mentioned that around 30 personnel are currently taking day-long classes.  This will be a continuous exercise. More such classes will be conducted in the future, he said.  While people in rest of Karnataka can converse in Kannada, people from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts take pride in speaking Tulu, the native dialect. Apart from it, there are also large of number of them speaking Konkani and Beary language.

When the top cop asked on a lighter note,  Tulu barpunda? (Can you speak Tulu?), "Will start speaking Tulu  after the coaching classes. I am also trying to learn and converse in basic Tulu, and attending the clases" he replied.