Oscar’s Tulu song in Rajya Sabha wins hearts

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi,Apr 09, 2017: In a rare  gesture  in support of the demand to include Tulu in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, Rajya Sabha Member and senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandes sprang a surprise by  singing a couple of lines from a Tulu folk song. His song was appreciated by members by thumping the tables.

Earlier B K Hariprasad tabled a private member’s bill seeking inclusion of Tulu in Eighth Schedule of Constitution. At this juncture, Oscar got five minutes to air his views.  Fellow member Jairam Ramesh suggested that Oscar spoke in Tulu instead of English.

Oscar said  during his childhood he used to sing Tulu songs and the  buffaloes understood only Tulu and not Kannada. Recollecting one of the folk songs, he  sang " O maga koraga ora barayana, Eru bathunda balpu maga  beri budandiye." If the buffaloe arrives we will have to run, once it runs it will not leave our backs."

Highlighting the importance of Tulu, Oscar made a fervent appeal to include it in the eighth schedule of the Constitution.