Tulu_script

The Tulu script, also known as the Tigalari script, strongly resembles the script of Malayalam language. Whether Tulu borrowed its script from Malayalam or not has been disputed for some time.

The Tulu Brahmins wrote the Vedic mantras in Tulu script. Since Malayalam had evoled as an independent language almost 1,500 years after Tulu bifurcated from its Proto-Dravidian roots, it is safe to conclude that Tulu language evolved a script of and borrowed it from Malayalam language.

Ancient works in Tulu

Compared to other South Indian languages, Tulu doesn\'t possess a vast array of literary works. Tulu Mahabharata is the earliest piece of literature, from the 15th century written in Tulu script. Other manuscripts like Tulu Devimahatme, from the 15th century and two epic poems written in 17th century, namely Sri Bhagavata and Kaveri have also been found. As most of the folk and literary works have been passed down orally, it is difficult to find the original manuscripts pertaining to these works.

Tulu Script

Tulu language possessed its own script before Malayalam script existed.Malayalam script developed from Tulu script as the language predates Malayalam by more than a thousand years. The Tulu priests who went south carried mantras written in Tulu script to Kerala. It is clearly proved by scholars, who are well versed in Tulu and Malayalam language and literature, that it is the Tuluvas who contributed a script for Malayalam which has no script until the Tulu Brahmins’ arrival in Kerala. In fact, the present Malayalam script is nothing but the modified Tulu script.

Decline

There are various reasons for the decline of the Tulu script. Linguistically, Tulu was a minority language in the erstwhile Madras Presidency under the British. As such, it was never given due attention by the rulers. Secondly, the establishment of printing press by the German missionaries, who used Kannada script in printing instead of Tulu script, led to further disuse of the original Tulu script.

Today

Tulu as a language continues to thrive in Coastal Karnataka. It has mainly survived due to the love of the Tuluvas towards their language. There have been efforts by Tulu Sahitya Academy to introduce Tulu as an optional language in schools around Coastal Karnataka.

The Govinda Pai Research Centre at MGM College, Udupi started an 18-year Tulu lexicon project in the year 1979.^{[citation needed]} Different dialects, special vocabularies used for different occupational activities, rituals, and folk literature in the forms of Paād-danāas were included in this project. The Centre has also released a six-volume, trilingual, modestly priced Tulu-Kannada-English lexicon. The Tulu lexicon was awarded the Gundert Award for the best dictionary in the country in 1996.

References

• Tulu Language: Its Script and Dialects by Neria Harish Hebbar
• The Tulu Language by Dr. K Padmanabha Kekunnaya
• Tulu lexicon project

See also

• Bhuta Kola
• Nagaradhane
• Paād-danāas

External links

• Images of the Tulu script

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