Tulu folk songs that have stories of common man should be closely studied to understand Tulu in the right manner, said folk scholar and chairperson of the Kannada Studies Chair at Jawaharlal Nehru University Purushottama Bilimale here on Monday.
Speaking at a programme on Tulu organised by the Democratic Youth Federation of India, Mr. Bilimale said it was unfortunate that such songs written by a few during the British rule were being considered the history of Tulu. In this history, Tulu folk songs that that tell stories of the common man have been largely ignored.
Mr. Bilimale said the Tulu folk songs have stories of Daivas who have fought injustice, hunger and oppression. It was important to study these songs to understand Tulu culture in a proper way.
Mother Teresa’s example
Earlier speaking at a seminar on the ‘Need of Mother Teresa’s services for society’, Mr. Bilimale said Mother Teresa should be an inspiration for all to wipe out tears of Rohingyas.
Mr. Bilimale said during his recent visit to a Rohingya camp, he had seen the pathetic state of the residents. There might be one or two among them involved in terrorist activities but it was wrong to brand the entire community as terrorists, he said.
Having seen the trauma of people following famine in Bengal in 1943 and communal riots in 1946, Mother Teresa felt that it was through action that love and affection can be spread. She not only asked people to work for the oppressed and sick but also involved herself in the service. Her service was relevant in this age, he said.
