Karnataka panel backs move to grant second official language status to Tulu

A high‑level committee constituted by the Karnataka government has formally recommended that Tulu be considered for status as the state’s second official language , drawing on insights from Andhra Pradesh’s model for recognising Urdu. The panel’s report, submitted on Wednesday, underscores both procedural learnings and the cultural importance of Tulu, marking a significant push in a long‑running campaign by language advocates.

The six‑member committee was chaired by K M Gayatri , former Director of the Kannada and Culture Department, and included Tharanatha Gatti Kapikad , president of the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy in an advisory role. The group visited the Andhra Pradesh Secretariat on January 19 and 20 to study the legal procedures, administrative frameworks and implementation benchmarks that Andhra Pradesh followed when it granted Urdu second official language status. It held consultations with senior officials to gather practical insights from those experiences.

The panel’s report, along with a detailed document outlining Tulu’s historical, linguistic and cultural significance, was submitted to J. Manjunath , Secretary of the Kannada and Culture Department at Vikas Soudha in Bengaluru. Senior officials from the Law Department, the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department and various state academies were present at the submission.

According to additional reporting, the committee’s findings will be used to help the state government draft specific criteria and procedural guidelines should it decide to move forward with officially recognising Tulu. A meeting with the Chief Minister and legislators from Tulu‑speaking regions is expected to follow as part of the next stage of deliberations.

Tulu is an ancient Dravidian language spoken by around 1.8 million people across coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi in Karnataka and parts of Kasaragod district in neighbouring Kerala . Supporters argue that official recognition would help preserve a rich cultural heritage, promote administrative inclusion, and potentially expand its use in education and government functions.

The demand for second official language status has been a persistent one from cultural organisations and community groups, who say that despite Tulu’s deep roots and continued use in everyday life, it has historically been sidelined in official administrative domains.

While Kannada remains the state’s primary official language , the committee’s recommendation marks a formal step towards broadening the linguistic policy of Karnataka, reflecting ongoing efforts to recognise and preserve regional languages across India.