MANGALORE : A complaint is being presently heard that the Tuluvas have not been given their due recognition in matters pertaining to the proposed World Tulu Conference. Latest reports indicate that though the Conerence invitation has been extended to all legislators and parliamentarians of the district, the Sullia Legislator S Angara had not yet received any formal invitation. This matter in turn has infuriated the Dalit community to which the legislator belongs to.
When this matter was brought to the notice of Dr Devaraj, President of the Tulu Conference City Committee who had arranged a press meet in the city on Thursday to inform about a seminar to be held prior to the conference,he however failed to give a clear cut reply.
When scribes wanted to know why the name of the Sullia legislator was left out in the invitation while all MLAs and MPs have been named as honorary advisors to the committee, Devaraj only said ” S Angara has informed us that he had no time.” To another question as to why the MLA would need time to even agree to permit printing of his name as honorary advisor to the committee, Devaraj had no reply.
Commenting on the issue, Krishnappa Konchady, District Convenor of the Pragathipara Chintakara Vedike alleged that Dalits had been deliebrately kept out of all programmes pertaining to the Tulu conference.”Though Daits are true representatives of the culture and traditions of Tulunad, there is no mention of this in any information released as part of the conference.There is also no discussion whatsoever as to why Dalits itself become Bhoota Patris in traditonal practices of Tulunad like Bhootha Kola and Nemas,” Krishnappa said.
There is even a complaint that despite non-vegetarian food being the main menu of Tuuvas particularly during functions, the Tulu conference would only adhere to the food practice of the upper classes in Tulunad.
Dalits also complain that the proposed conference was only a conference of bigwigs and that crores were being collected in the name of Tulu culture. It is also being said that publicity fond leaders lik Moidin Bava and Ivan D’Souza were made to occupy the dais merely to prove that all religions were given due representation, despite neglecting the original inhabitants of Tulunad,their lifestyle and food habits. There is even a feeling that the Tulu Sammelan which ought to have provided a platform to discuss the impact of projects like SEZ which are hitting hard life and traditions of Tulunad, was however not workng towards this direction.
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