Work on the Tulu Bhavan, which will have the office of the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy, commenced here on Saturday.
Estimated at Rs. 4.8 crore, the bhavan is coming up near Mahaganapati Temple in Urwa Stores. Apart from having the office of the academy, the bhavan will have a museum and a theatre. “This bhavan would be a reflection of the rich Tulu culture,” said Umananth Kotian, Chairman of the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy.
The proposal for having a Tulu Bhavan was mooted when M.K. Seetharama Kulal headed the academy in 2006. He felt that the bhavan would save the academy of the rent paid for the present location, which could be used for activities related to Tulu development.
It was in 2011 during the chairmanship of Paltady Ramakrishna Achar that the State government sanctioned Rs. 4.8 crore and released Rs. 3 crore. The foundation stone was laid in October 2011. A few weeks ago, tenders were floated and the contractor was selected. The academy worked to resolve the dispute over a small portion of the land allotted for the bhavan, said Academy Registrar Chandrahas Rai.
The two-storey bhavan will have 1,277 sq mt cellar for parking vehicles. The first floor will have a hall for cultural and theatre activities that can accommodate 300 people. A museum on the second floor will showcase rare artefacts related to Tulu life and culture, and games.
The academy has a plan to have a library where research works on Tulu culture and life histories of Tulu writers, artistes, and thinkers will be kept.
It will also have an audiovisual library to store compact discs on Tulu folk games and dances, Tuluva rites and rituals, “Bhutharadhane”, serpent worship, “Kambala”, Yakshagana, and Chennemane. A room to record interactions of people associated with Tulu and a few guest rooms will be built. The exterior of the Bhavan will get a native look.
Mr. Kotian said the academy would need Rs. 2 crore to do the interiors. He said the bhavan would be ready in two years.
Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly N. Yogish Bhat, Mr. Kotian, Mr. Achar, and Deputy Mayor Amitha Kala took part in the function.
