Mangaluru: Kelinja Seetharama Alva is a leader of ’Tulu language’

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sep 25, 2015:  Addressing the gathering on the release of  ’Tulu Kelinja Barato’, poetry by late Kelinja Seetharama Alva at ’Siri Chavadi’ of Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy building,  Odiyoor Sri Gurudevadatta Samsthanam Sri Gurudevananda Swami said that Tuluvas should display strong will power to save their language and culture.

 

Tulu language, hope will be included in the list of languages in the eighth schedule of the Indian Constitutions before the work of ’Tulu Bhavan’ is over and elected representatives of the district will do the needful in that regard he added.

Kelinja Seetharama Alva is like Vyasa of Tulu language. A person with strong intent to give back something to society can only write a book like this. It has a great collection of Tulu words. Alva has become immortal through his characters. Bantwal Tulukoota president A C Bhandary said literature is must for the Tulu language to develop. This is golden era for Tulu language, with more number of literary works, dramas, cinemas being produced.People were ashamed to speak in Tulu and teachers used to punish children, if they spoke in Tulu. Now, the situation has changed. Schools have started teaching Tulu.

Academy Registrar Chandrahas Rai B said, there is no dearth of grants in the academy. The academy gets Rs 10 lakh just by the publication of books and many a time the funds remain unutilized. The academy has decided to give Rs 5,000 financial assistance for the publication of Tulu books thereby motivating literary activities.

The work on documentary on Tulu achievers and dictionary is in progress. ’Tulu Minadana’ programme will be organized in every taluk. Around 250 students from seven schools in Puttur taluk are studying Tulu as the third language. ’Tulu Kalasamruta’ by Ma Vittal Puttur, ’Sugipu- Madipu’ and ’Opatimaale Geetanjali’ by Kudkadi Vishwanath Rai were also released by the seer on the occasion.

Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy president M Janaki Brahmavara, senior journalist Malar Jayaram Rai, senior Gamaka artiste Gami Vishwanath Shetty, Academy Member Convener Raghu Idkidu were present.