Bantwal : In the schools of D.K were a “Pratibha Karanji”(talent fountain) contests take place every year and one school is selected to hold such competitions for the children of all other schools,  Tulu is cutting a sorry figure in the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), in regard to folk dancers and songs on stage at the coast of Kannada which is the state language and predominant medium of instruction in public schools.

The result is that even when a dance was performed bases on a Tulu folk song in 2012 secured the first prize but was insulted and kept out of the contests for receiving the prizes. This shows the partiality for Kannada and against Tulu in a virtually Tulu dominated district in History namely D.K District. The DPI seems to forget that local cultures, languages and arts have to be encouraged by the Karnataka Govt. and not vice versa. The discouragement made to Tulu folk songs and Tulu music or dancers on stage by children of Tulu Nadu that is D.K District speaks volumes for the step-motherly treatment given by the same govt. that accept Kannada songs and dances for talent contests in various schools.

Tulu is at present an optional (3rd) language in certain schools for education but why discriminate and prohibit Tulu in children’s song, dancers and contests? The state govt., especially DPI would have to change its policy where Tulu folk songs are available in plenty but such Kannada songs are few. Tulu is the mother tongue of lakhs of West Coast families from Kasargod to Kalyanpur. There is a Tulu Sahithya Academy in Mangalore, which has no head at present (Umanath Kotiayan  as resigned), but only a body of officials. This has added to the difficulties due to neglect of Tulu as a language under the Constitutions of the India and lack of recognition to Tulu in educational legal and cultural matters of Karnataka life.

Such a sorry state of affairs needs to be remedied and Tulu as to be brought back to good health by nursing and cultivating its many splendid features.