The Karnataka Cabinet on September 18 approved Tulu as the state’s second additional official language for administrative purposes in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, following decades of demands from Tulu-speaking communities, cultural organisations and regional representatives.
The decision was announced by Chief Minister D K Shivakumar after a special Cabinet meeting in Mangaluru, the first such meeting held in the coastal city. The government has also earmarked ₹82 lakh annually for Tulu-related translation, training and other activities, with the district administrations expected to oversee implementation.
Tulu is predominantly spoken in coastal Karnataka and parts of Kasaragod in Kerala, and around 18.5 lakh people reported it as their mother tongue in the 2011 Census. The decision has been welcomed by Tulu organisations and supporters, although their larger demand for inclusion in the Constitution’s Eighth Schedule, which currently contains 22 languages, remains unresolved.
The recognition follows years of advocacy, including a government-appointed committee headed by educationist Mohan Alva and a study of how other states administer additional official languages.
A Long-Sought Recognition
The Cabinet decision gives Tulu a formal place in government administration in the two districts where the language has a strong presence. The government’s annual allocation of ₹82 lakh is expected to support translation, language training and related activities, making implementation an important next step beyond the announcement itself.
Tulu has a long oral and literary tradition and is generally classified as a Dravidian language. Its cultural presence extends across theatre, literature, folk traditions and popular culture in the coastal region. The decision was welcomed by Tulu organisations and members of the public, with celebrations reported in Mangaluru following the announcement.
Tulu Official, an account associated with the language campaign, described the decision as a “historic moment” and thanked supporters, organisations, cultural activists, writers and students who had participated in the movement. Social-media posts from the region also celebrated the Cabinet decision.
From Campaign To Cabinet Decision
The recognition follows a long-running campaign that has involved governments, political representatives and civil-society organisations. In 2023, the Karnataka government constituted a committee headed by educationist Mohan Alva to examine the proposal to grant Tulu official-language status.
The issue was subsequently examined through legal and administrative processes, including a study of models adopted by other states. Karnataka officials examined the framework used for additional official languages, including the recognition and administrative use of Urdu in Andhra Pradesh.
In the months preceding the September 18 Cabinet meeting, Tulu organisations stepped up their campaign. Jai Tulunad submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on September 12, urging the government to approve Tulu’s additional-language status at the Mangaluru meeting.
Several organisations also organised an X campaign on September 15 under #TuluOfficialinKA_KL, seeking official recognition in Karnataka and Kerala.
Before the Cabinet meeting, Jai Tulunad representatives had publicly pressed the government to act, while TV5 Kannada reported a statement from organisation representative Uday Poonja, who said the community had submitted a memorandum to district in-charge minister U T Khader.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Language is more than a means of communication; for communities, it can carry history, literature, memory and cultural identity across generations. The Karnataka Cabinet’s decision creates a formal administrative space for Tulu in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, but its significance will ultimately depend on how effectively that recognition reaches citizens in everyday interactions with government.
The government will now have to translate the announcement into practical mechanisms, including trained personnel, accessible translations and clear administrative procedures.
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