Context
- The Karnataka government has decided to accord Tulu the status of second additional administrative language in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.
- The move provides greater administrative recognition to Tulu in its principal linguistic region and responds to a long-standing demand of Tulu-speaking communities.
About Tulu Language
- Language family: Tulu is a Dravidian language, belonging to the same broad family as Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam.
- Distribution: It is spoken mainly in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka and northern parts of Kasaragod district in Kerala.
- Tulu Nadu: The traditional cultural-linguistic region inhabited predominantly by Tulu-speaking communities is popularly known as Tulu Nadu.
- Distinct language: Despite considerable interaction and vocabulary exchange with Kannada, Tulu has an independent linguistic identity.
- Speakers: Census 2011 recorded more than 18 lakh Tulu mother-tongue speakers in Karnataka.
- Script: Tulu has historically been associated with the Tulu-Tigalari script, though the Kannada script is widely used for writing the language today.
- Historical evidence: Available Tulu inscriptions date to around the 14th–15th centuries, while its cultural heritage has been transmitted substantially through oral traditions.
- Education: Tulu has been taught as an optional language in schools in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.
Cultural Significance
- Rich oral tradition: Tulu has a strong heritage of folk songs, legends, narratives and traditional literature.
- Bhoota Kola: A distinctive ritual tradition involving the worship and performance associated with local spirits or deities is deeply rooted in Tulu Nadu.
- Yakshagana: The region is also associated with Yakshagana, a traditional theatre form combining dance, music, dialogue and elaborate costumes.
These traditions make Tulu an important carrier of the cultural identity and intangible heritage of coastal Karnataka.
Constitutional Status of Tulu
- Tulu is recognised separately by the Census of India and is treated as an important non-Scheduled language.
- It is not included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, which currently recognises 22 languages.
- Karnataka’s decision provides administrative recognition at the State/district level; it does not amount to inclusion in the Eighth Schedule.
FAQs
Q1. Tulu belongs to which language family?
Tulu belongs to the Dravidian language family.
Q2. Where is Tulu mainly spoken?
It is mainly spoken in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and northern Kasaragod.
Q3. What is Tulu Nadu?
It is the traditional cultural-linguistic region associated with Tulu-speaking communities.
Q4. Is Tulu an Eighth Schedule language?
No, Tulu is currently a non-Scheduled language.
Q5. What is the Tulu-Tigalari script?
It is the historical script associated with Tulu, although Kannada script is widely used today.
