Mangalore : M Veerappa Moily, the union minister for corporate affairs said that Beary writers must provide new words to the Beary vocabulary in order to protect and preserve the language.

He was speaking after inaugurating an event titled Sahithigalondige Makhamudki, held on the second day of the Beary Sammelan in Town on Dec 11, Sunday.

He also assured that he will discuss the matter of developing a dictionary for the Beary language at the centre if the academy submitted a proposal.

Minister said that the Beary language has a 3000-year old history and that the Bearys are the original inhabitants of the coastal region.

Renowned Kannada writer Vaidehi, presided over the event.

Jayanth Kaikini, the writer, and P. Sheshadri, the award-winning movie director, spoke on the role of the cinema in enriching language.

Later Moily was honored with a shawl by B. A. Moideen, the former minister. G. A. Bava, the KPCC joint secretary and former police officer, was also honored. District-in-charge Minister J. Krishna Palemar presented mementos to the guests.

M. B. Abdul Rahman, the president of the Beary Academy was present.