Udupi : Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of State for Fisheries, Youth Empowerment and Sports, said on Tuesday that it was essential to promote Tulu language and culture.

He was speaking after presenting the Paniyadi Tulu Kadambari Award to writer B. Sachidananda Hegde for his novel “Balu Madeti” at a function organised by the Tulukoota here.

The award instituted by the Tulukoota, is given annually.

Mr. Madhwaraj said that Tulu was the lingua franca of Tulunadu and was spoken right from Brahmavar to Uppala. The importance of Tulu can be considered by the fact that it is regarded one among the “Pancha Dravida Bhashas”. The Tulukoota was rendering a yeoman service to Tulu language and culture by giving the Paniyadi Kadambari Award for the last 22 years, he said.

Prakash Suvarna welcomed the gathering. Indrali Jayakar Shetty, president of Tulukoota, Bhaskarananda Kumar, honorary president, Ganesh Amin Sankamar, professor, St. Aloysius College, Mangaluru, Purushotham Shetty, businessman, Kishore Alva, executive director, Adani-UPCL, and others were present.