Celebrities back demand for Tulu in 8th Schedule

Mangaluru: Everyone from the common man on the street to celebrities in coastal Karnataka have joined the chorus for  adding Tulu language to the 8th schedule of the Constitution and for recognising it as an official language in Karnataka and Kerala.

Tulu is spoken by the people of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts in Karnataka and parts of Kasargod district in Kerala. The inclusion of Tulu in the 8th schedule of the Constitution has been a long standing demand of the Tulu speaking community. About a year ago the demand was placed before Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade during his visit to Ujire. But the Central government has not done much on this.

A few years ago, the Tulu academy with the help of scholars had approached the government with a plea that the language should be added to the 8th schedule. Now a Tweeter campaign- “TuluOfficialInKA_KL,” and “TuluTo8thSchedule,” has been initiated by activists. In their tweets, the activists stated the reasons why they are demanding that Tulu be made an official language in Karnataka and Kerala and also be added to the 8th schedule. Interestingly, the campaign has received good response from Sandalwood actors. “I support the cause for adding Tulu as an official language,” tweeted actor  Shivarajkumar. Actor Jaggesh too supported the cause by tweeting in Tulu.

“Tulu language is close to our heart. I’m proud to hail from the coastal region that has such rich culture and unique traditions. We must recognise & give special status to Tulu!,” artist Vilas Nayak tweeted.

Legislators, including Bharath Shetty and Harish Poonja, and former MLA Pramod Madhwaraj too have supported the cause. In his tweet in Tulu, MP and state BJP chief Nalin Kumar Kateel hoped that as BJP was ruling the state and was in power at the Centre, Tulu would be added to the 8th schedule.

Moodabidri MLA and former president of Tulu Sahitya Academy Umanath Kotian told Deccan Chronicle that before demanding that Tulu be added to the 8th schedule, steps should be taken to recognise Tulu as an official language in the state. “We should be in a position to speak Tulu in assembly. Once it is recognised in the state,  the government can officially request the Union government to add the language to the 8th schedule,” he said.