Mangaluru: Senior writer and researcher Benet G Amanna on Tuesday called for appointing Tulu-speaking staff in banks, police stations, post offices and other govt offices to ensure effective use of the language.Inaugurating a session on ‘Administrative Recognition for Tulu – The Way Forward’, organised by Dakshina Kannada District Congress Publicity Committee at District Congress Office, Amanna said private educational institutions should prioritise Tulu studies.He advocated diploma and PhD programmes in Tulu, research into its history, a separate flag and museums dedicated to the language. He opposed changing the names of towns and circles embodying Tulu culture and history and sought the revival of Tulu words that had fallen out of use.Writer Prabhakara Neerumarga said Tulu had originated and developed through agriculture. Worship practices, customs, traditions and art forms such as Yakshagana and Talamaddale in Tulunadu were linked to agriculture and farmers. Tulu culture, traditions and values were fading as people moved away from agriculture, he said.Neerumarga called for teaching young people about Tulu’s history and importance, collecting and preserving Paddanas, publishing works reflecting its history and supporting Tulu artists.Tulu Parishad president Shubhodaya Alva sought resources and the establishment of a corporation and authority for Tulu’s development.Former corporator Nawaz called for training Tulu teachers, forming a Tulu Prachara Samiti on the lines of Hindi Prachara Samiti, preparing textbooks and offering Tulu as an elective in all schools, with increased funding.
