Karnataka urges Tulu speakers to register in census

Purushottama Bilimale, chairman of the Kannada Development Authority, urged the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy to campaign for Tulu speakers to register their mother tongue in the upcoming census. He emphasized the importance of accurate data for government language policies. Bilimale noted that many regional languages are at risk of extinction, citing a significant decline in the Koraga-speaking population. He highlighted that Karnataka has 230 languages and dialects, with Tulu literature dating back 2,000 to 3,000 years. During the event, the academy presented honorary awards to several individuals for their contributions to Tulu literature. Awards for 2022, 2023, and 2024 were given, along with book awards to four writers, recognizing their work in the Tulu language.