In a potential shift towards cultural inclusivity, the Karnataka government is reportedly planning to declare Tulu as an additional official language alongside Kannada. “A meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will be convened to discuss the proposal,” said Minister for Kannada and Culture Shivaraj Tangadagi.
Minister of Culture, Shivaraj Tangadagi, has revealed that a letter has been sent to the West Bengal government, which already provides provisions for other languages as additional official state language. Furthermore, a delegation from Karnataka visited Andhra Pradesh, where Urdu was recognized as the second state language.
The push for Tulu’s recognition stems from its rich history and the existence of a script, as well as its recognition by Google for translation services. In Germany and France, there are opportunities to study Tulu, with universities allowing exams to be written in the medium.
Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai has been vocal about the importance of Tulu, highlighting its 3000-year history and the lack of implementation despite repeated requests during legislative sessions. He raised concerns about the financial implications being non-existent, expressing frustration about when this decision might be implemented.
