Tulu: The Administrative Language of the Past, But Unofficially in the Present
Tulu: The Administrative Language of the Past, But Unofficially in the Present A Language That Ruled, Now Fighting for Its Identity Once upon a time, the language of Tulu Nadu wasn’t just spoken—it was written in stone, etched into history, and ruled an entire land. It was the language of kings, village heads, markets, courts, and temples. Tulu was power. Tulu was governance. Tulu was administration. But today? Tulu has no official recognition. A language that once dictated land records, tax systems, and royal decrees is now struggling to find its place in its own homeland. Isn’t this painful? A language that guided the destiny of a people for centuries is now left waiting outside the doors of officialdom. Tulu Inscriptions: Echoes of an Administrative Legacy 1. 7th-Century Tulu Inscription – The First Written Proof The earliest known Tulu inscription (7th century, Pelattur) is a silent witness to the fact that Tulu was already a language of governance over a thousand years ago. I...