Global meet to hail Tulu culture

Kozhikode: Come December, some five lakh Tulu-speaking people from across the globe would converge on Badiadka in Kasargod to share their vibrant cultural bond. Organised by Kasargod-based umbrella body of Tulu people, Tuluvara Ayana Koottam, the Global Tulu Meet will be held from December 8 to 13. The highlight of the event is the confluence of 14 languages closely linked to Tulu, viz., Malayalam, Kannada, Konkani, Byari, Maappilai, Karada, Mavila, Kodava, Havyaka, Kunda Kannada, Ara Kannada and Marathi.

“Tuluvites from seven countries will attend the meet. Besides a venue to introduce Tulu culture to the young generation, it will discuss existing challenges and ways to sustain the Tulu culture and tradition,” said Prof Sreenath A., working president of the Ayana Kootta. The meet will also witness the release of the first Tulu-Malayalam bilingual dictionary.

A vehicle which has been set off from Kunthapura in Karnataka on August 28 to campaign for the meet had entered Kerala, and it would be concluded at Panathady Tulur Vana temple after 108 days. The event is expected to devise strategies to put pressure on the Union government to include Tulu in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, to recognise it as the official language.

“There are close to two lakh people in Kasaragod district alone whose mother tongue is Tulu. The plight of the linguistic minorities is deplorable in all states, and the meet will be an occasion to come up with solutions to deal with the crisis,” said Dr Ratnakara Mallamoola, Kannada professor at Kasargod Govt College.