Prefer Kannada over Tulu, Beary script: Linguist

September 18, 2011

Mangalore, September 18: Noted linguist and lexicographer U P Upadhyaya said that there was no need to invent its own script for Beary language, as it could easily be written in Kannada.

Speaking on the topic 'regionalism in Beary language' at a programme organised by Karnataka Beary Sahitya Academy here on Sunday, he strongly argued that both Beary and Tulu should be written in Kannada, despite the fact that Tulu has its own script.

He warned that using an unfamiliar script for a local language would only lead to the isolation of that language.

The linguist also pointed out that language exists only in dialects and not in script. He went on to describe the script as nothing but a photograph of the spoken word.

Borrow and grow

Mr Upadhyaya said that a language can grow by borrowing words from other languages. “We should be ready to accept words from other languages without any hesitation”, he said.

Stating that no language is complete and self dependent, he said around 80 per cent of the vocabulary of any language is borrowed from other language.

He said that that Tulu, despite being the regional language of Tulu Nadu, contains around 80 per cent of words from Tamil, Malayalam, Sanskrit and Arabic roots.

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RuTAGe smart village centres in DK, Udupi to being technology closer to rural communities

News Network

January 20,2026

Mangaluru: In a major step towards strengthening rural innovation, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India is supporting the establishment of RuTAGe Smart Village Centres (RSVCs) across the country through collaborations with academic institutions, civil society organisations and philanthropic partners.

As part of this national initiative, Nitte (Deemed to be University) will set up the first RSVCs in the region at Nitte GP in Udupi district and at the Nitte Health Centre, Sevanjali Trust, Farangipete, in Dakshina Kannada district. The centres will be inaugurated on January 21. In South India, the programme is being implemented by the Section Infin-8 Foundation (SI-8).

Speaking to reporters on Monday, SI-8 founder-director Vishwas US said experts from Nitte University and SI-8 would work closely with farmers, students, youth and local entrepreneurs to adapt and deploy technologies tailored to local needs.

Project head Prof Iddya Karunasagar, representing Nitte DU, said the RSVCs at Nitte and Farangipete would serve as demonstration hubs for a wide range of agriculture, energy, skill-development and assistive technologies. These include solar dryers for fruits, vegetables and crops; soil-testing solutions; power weeders and women-friendly farm tools; wind-powered devices for rural artisans; grain storage systems; grass-cutting and tree-climbing equipment; and liquid fertiliser production using cowshed waste.

SI-8 CEO Aravind C Kumar said the centres would also provide access to digital and knowledge-based platforms such as ISRO applications, government scheme portals, market linkage tools and gamified learning resources, along with assistive technologies for persons with visual impairments.

Highlighting the broader impact of the initiative, Principal Scientific Adviser Prof Ajay Kumar Sood said it demonstrated how applied research could bridge the rural–urban divide and help create self-reliant, technology-enabled villages.

The initiative has been made possible through philanthropic support from Dr NC Murthy of ACM Business Solutions, LLC, USA. Dr Sapna Poti, Director (Strategic Alliances) at the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, said the long-term objective is to build self-sufficient, technology-driven communities capable of generating sustainable livelihoods on their own.

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