more-in Paving the way for introduction of a post-graduation course in Tulu in Mangalore University and in its affiliated colleges, the academic council of the university approved the regulations governing the course in its meeting on Thursday. Earlier, Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy had appealed to the university to offer a two-year post-graduation course in Tulu, one of the five-Dravidian languages, which, according to the academy, has a history of more than 2,600 years. The Syndicate, the highest decision making body of the university, approved the regulations on May 23. An eight-member committee, headed by Nagappa Gowda, Associate Professor, Department of Post-Graduation Studies in Kannada, had met on April 24 and worked out modalities to introduce M.A. (Tulu) from the current academic year. It had recommended that the course be started at the University Evening College in Hampankatta. Later, the committee, which also included A.C. Bhandary, president of the academy, framed the regulations governing the course. Entrance test, viva voce Speaking at the council meeting, Kishori Nayak K., Dean, Faculty of Arts, pointed out ambiguities in the regulations. She said there should be some kind of entrance test and viva voce for admission. There should be clarity on the language in which students would answer the paper. The qualifications of staff, who would teach course, should be mentioned. She said they should be cleared before sending the regulations to the government for approval. Responding to this, Mr. Gowda said students would answer the paper in Kannada. Students who have done their M.A. (Kannada) would be qualified to teach the subject as they learn Tulu as a paper as part of their post-graduation course. The selection could be carried out based on the fluency of students in the language at a viva voce as well as an entrance test to draw up merit list of students as suggested by Ms. Nayak. Challenge to get students K.M. Balakrishna, Dean, Faculty of Science and Technology, said since Tulu is not taught as a subject at the pre-university and degree level, attracting students to the course would be a challenge. A.M. Khan, Registrar (Evaluation) said the university is duty-bound to promote the local language by addressing the ambiguities in the regulations. Kishore Kumar C.K., in-charge Vice-Chancellor, who presided over the meeting, said the modifications in the regulations would be done accordingly. Meanwhile, the academy has urged the government to introduce Tulu in pre-university level and the university in degree level as the second optional language.

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