On April 4, Tulukoota Udipi organised a dual programme in Udipi to mark the official recognition of the Tulu language by the Karnataka government. The event, titled “Tuluvare Dibban” followed by a Gowji‑Minadan performance, began at 4:00 pm with a procession that moved from Kunjibettu rickshaw stand to the IVC auditorium, the venue for the Yakshagana Kala Rang.
B. Jayakara Shetty Indrali, the secretary of Tulukoota Udipi, announced that the afternoon ceremony would also include a celebration of the language’s new status and the presentation of the S. Y. Paniyadi memorial novel award. The award ceremony is being sponsored by Vishwaprabha and coordinated with the Kannada and Culture Department.
Prominent figures such as MLA Yashpal A. Suvarna, Councillor Gurme Suresh Shetty, former ministers Vinaya Kumar Sorake, Pramod Madhwaraj, former MLA K. Raghupathi Bhat and entrepreneur Prasad Raj Kanchan are scheduled to attend. In addition, 52 students who achieved a perfect 100 percent score in the Tulu subject in the recent SSC examination will receive cash prizes.
The honour roll also includes A. C. Bhandari, president of the All India Tulu Federation, Mangalore, who will be recognised for his long‑term advocacy that led to the language’s official status. The award for the 2025 Paniyadi novel will be presented to Sulochana P. K., the author of “Dadhuti Bana” from Puttur, with a cash component of ten thousand rupees. Writer Vasanthi Ambapadi will introduce the winning work.
Officials present at the press conference included Tulukoota Udipi vice‑president Bhuvanprasad Hegde, Dr. V. K. Yadav, secretary Gangadhara Kidiur, award coordinator Prakash Suvarna Katapadi, Dibban coordinator Divakar Sanil, media coordinator Yashodha Keshav and drama coordinator B. Prabhakara Bhandari. Additional participants were ABTU honorary president Baroda Shashidhar Shetty, Tulun Sangha honorary president Dayananda Bontre, former Yakshagana Academy president Prof. M. L. Samaga, social worker and award sponsor Udipi Vishwa Natha Shenai and young entrepreneur Subhash Salian Nellikkatti.
Image: varthabharati.in
📰 Source: Vartha Bharati Udupi