Scholar Amrith Someshwar said here on Thursday that more epics should be written in Tulu.
They should have essence and not merely be works of words, he said in an informal chat with reporters after receiving the Bhasha Samman of Sahitya Akademi, Delhi, for 2016 for Tulu at the K.S. Hegde Medical Academy Hospital in Deralakatte, where he is undergoing treatment.
“More mahakavya s (epics) should be written. They should not be worthless long scripts,” he said. The writer said he felt that all minority languages, including Tulu, should get Constitutional recognition. “But I cannot say exactly the nature of the recognition,” he said. “Indian languages and dialects are plenty. Each have own characteristics and importance.”
Referring to the recent murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru, he said it was an insult to humanity. “No such murders should take place, not only of Gauri Lankesh but anybody,” he said.
Utilising expertise
Meanwhile, B. Surendra Rao, a former professor of history at Mangalore University, who has translated many Tulu works to English, told The Hindu that Mr. Someshwar’s expertise on Tulu was utilised well when he was associated with the making of the Tulu Lexicon in six volumes, which Udupi Govinda Pai Research Centre took up.
He was able to highlight the richness of medieval Tulu language, literature and folklore while accommodating and making sense of the words in the lexicon. He also took up, on his own, the task of putting together a dictionary of the Moya Language, which is related to Malayalam.
Mr. Rao said Mr. Someshwar has written extensively on social issues, composed poems and limericks on many themes, translated some of the three-liners of Sarvajana into Tulu, and put together his own version of the Devil’s Dictionary.
He has to his credit more than 50 works in Tulu and Kannada. Besides, he was a teacher of great repute and has inspired generations of students who are continuing his work in both Kannada and Tulu.
Mr. Someshwar has been honoured with many awards such as the Karnataka State Rajyothsava Award, Parthi Subba Award, Jaanapada Tajna Prashsti, Kukkila Prashasti, and Tulu Academy Annual Award.
