Delivering the keynote address following the inauguration of a two-day national seminar on 'Dakshina Kannada Then and Now' organised by Besant Evening College in association with Tulu Sahitya Academy, Mangalore, on Tuesday, he said that Tulu was generally accepted as having Kannada script. The administration of South Canara about a thousand years ago was Kannada-speaking and the orders were issued in Kannada. The script of Tulu slowly went into disuse. Tulu became a dialect and almost went into hiding, and had to be retrieved from certain households. Kannada was the language of the elites, and Kannada script got tagged to Tulu, he said.
Speaking on the significance of Tulu language, he said that the authentic folk-life of this area was reflected in the performances of 'Bhoota-kola', as the language spoken by the impersonator was Tulu. Even in Kambla which is uniquely identified with Tulunadu, Kannada has no place. Kannada presence is merely a superficial layer. It is a language of school-going people. On the other hand, Yakshagana has been reflected as an elite cultural performance, and the language of Yakshagana has always been Kannada, he said.
Speaking about the distinctness of the region of Dakshina Kannada, he said that historically, the Western Ghats were seen as a physical and emotional barrier between Tulunadu and the upper regions. The significance is that the cultural influences have been a kind of symbolic superimposition of the region and its people. Politically, this land was always a possession which was fought for, because this coast was valuable and provided an opening for overseas trade and connection for inland traders. The region of Tulunadu has a distinct culture of its own. It is distinct geographically, ecologically, linguistically and historically, and the geography of the region has a lot to do with our distinctness. According to the legend of Parashurama which we believe is historically true, Tulunadu is a land retrieved from the ocean, a land created a new, said Dr Rao.
He also said that we had a wrong notion of culture. Culture is something that evolves over time, and is constantly changing, he said.
Inaugurating the seminar, president of Tulu Sahitya Academy Umanath Kotian said that along with education, students should learn values and build up a strong culture as well.
Chartered Accountant S S Nayak also spoke on the occasion. President of Women's National Society, Mangalore, Kudpi Jagadish Shenoy delivered the presidential address.
Principal Prof Sulochana D Rao welcomed the gathering and correspondent of the college Nagar Narayana Shenoy delivered the vote of thanks.
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