A research work on the now quiet Barakuru (or Barkur) town, in Udupi district, which is said to have been the capital of rulers who ruled the then Tulu Nadu, will be available as a book in English soon.
The research work of 1984 is now confined to the shelf at the University of Mysore. Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy would publish it as a book which will be available by March next.
The late B. Vasanth Shetty, the then vice-principal, SMS College, Brahmavar submitted his research work titled “Barakuru (a metropolitan city of antiquity) its history and culture” to the University of Mysore for the Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1984. M. Janaki Brahmavar, president of the academy, told The Hindu that it was the only well-researched work on Barakuru which was ruled by Alupas, Vijayanagara kings and rulers of Keladi dynasty. The academy would publish its 400 or 500 copies in abridged form in about 450 pages as not many books have been published on the Barakuru.
“The research work makes an interesting reading on the then Barakuru. Late Mr. Shetty had studied 150 inscriptions before finalising his research work. As the town’s history should reach all, the academy would publish it in English without confining the limitations to Tulu,” she said.
In his work late Mr. Shetty writes: “…this study ranges from 12th century AD to 17th century AD. This was the most active period in the history of Barakuru. It was during this period of about 600 years that this city rising from oblivion, occupied the coveted position of a metropolitan city…”
It said that the Alupas who were ruling from Udyavara must have shifted the headquarters of their government to Barakuru in the middle of 12th century AD. This shifting of the capital must have taken place during the reign of the Alupa monarch Kavi Alupendra. According to the work during the Vijayanagara empire the entire Tulu Nadu had been divided as Barakuru state and Mangalore state with Barakuru being the capital of Barakuru state.
