Mangaluru: A Tulu script primer, ‘Tulu Varnamrta’, authored by Prahlad Tantry, and a monthly Tulu magazine ‘Punnameda Bolpu’ were released during the World Tulu Script Day celebrations titled ‘Tulu Pajje’ and a seminar on the official status of Tulu, organised by Tuluva Mahasabhe Mulki zone and Tulu Cultural Research Foundation (TCRF) at Mulki on Friday.“The book aims to standardise the use of Tulu script, as there is no uniform standard yet. It will help people read ancient manuscripts and adapt the script for modern use,” said Tantry.The new monthly magazine will be led by Mahi Mulki as editor-in-chief and Nishith G Ramakunja as executive editor. The programme featured a lecture by Mahi Mulki, founder of TCRF, on ‘Arunabjana Bharatakavyada Porlu’.Speaking on the official status of Tulu and the way forward, GVS Ullal, founder-president of Namma Tulunadu Trust, said that if Tulunadu had been a separate state during the reorganisation of states, it could have emerged as a “golden state” for the country, given its strengths in education, banking and other sectors.Inaugurating the programme, Mulki Govt PU College principal Vasudeva Belle said Tulu had its own significance, and the script had a rich tradition that needed greater attention for its development. Language was an integral part of human life and essential for the expansion of the material world, he said.Bhanumathi Shetty Kakvaguthu, president of Tulu World Foundation, Kateel, urged people to preserve and promote Tulu and work towards realising the recognition accorded to the language by the govt. She called on students to study the Tulu script collectively.Udaya Poonja Taripadiguthu, president of Tuluva Mahasabhe Mulki zone, called for arrangements to teach the Tulu script in every school and college, and sought collective efforts towards the formation of a Tulu state.TCRF president Nishith Ramakunja and Nishanth Rathnakar, who heads the foundation’s linguistics and research team, were present.
