Tulu Nadu | |
|---|---|
Region | |
 South Canara, an erstwhile district, forms the centre of the Tuluva region called 'Tulu Nadu'. | |
| Coordinates:13°00′N75°24′E / 13.00°N 75.40°E /13.00; 75.40 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Karnataka,Kerala |
| Districts | Dakshina Kannada,Udupi andKasaragod |
| Largest City | Mangalore |
| No. of districts & Talukas | 3 Districts and 18 Taluks |
| Area | |
• Total | 10,432 km2 (4,028 sq mi) |
| Population (2011)[3] | |
• Total | 4,574,385 |
| • Density | 438.50/km2 (1,135.7/sq mi) |
| Demonyms | |
| Languages | |
| • Lingua Franca | Tulu |
| • Spoken | Tulu,Konkani,Beary,Kannada,Malayalam[4] |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Telephone code | 0824, 0825 |
| ISO 3166 code | ISO 3166-2:IN |
| Vehicle registration | KA19, KA20, KA21, KA62, KA70, KL14. |
Tulu Nadu, orTulunad, is a region and aproposed state on the southwestern coast ofIndia.[5] The region is predominantly inhabited by theTulu people, also known as Tuluva, who speakTulu, aDravidian language. The former district encompassed the territories of the contemporaryDakshina Kannada (Kudla) andUdupi (Odipu) ofKarnataka State, andKasaragod district (Kasrod) ofKerala state. These areas collectively form thecultural region of the Tuluver.[6]
Historically, Tulu Nadu lies between theGangavalli River (Uttara Kannada district ofKarnataka) andChandragiri/Payaswini River (Kasaragod district of Kerala).[7] Despite its distinct cultural identity, the region is not recognized as an official administrative entity.[8][9]
Kudla (Mangaluru) is the largest city in Tulu Nadu, the third-largest city by area, and the fifth-largest by population inKarnataka.[10][11]Udupi (Odipu) andKasarogod (Kasrod) are two other major cities in this region, both located on the Kerala-Karnataka border.[12]
The term "Tulunadu" appears as "Tuḷu Nāṭṭu" inAkananuru, a classicalTamil poetic work that is part of the "Eight Anthologies" (Ettuthokai) — a collection ofSangam literature composed over 2000 years ago.[13][14]
According toKeralolpathi, the nameTuluva comes from the name of one of theCheraman Perumal kings ofKerala, who located their residence in the northern portion of their dominions just before its separation fromKerala, and was calledTulubhan Perumal.[15]
According to its foundation narrative, the district was reclaimed byParashurama from the sea.[16] According to the 17th-centuryMalayalam workKeralolpathi, the lands of Kerala and Tulu Nadu were recovered from theArabian Sea by the ax-wielding warrior sageLord Parashurama, the sixthavatar ofLord Vishnu (hence, Kerala is also calledParasurama Kshetram, 'The Land of Parasurama').[17] Parasurama threw his ax across the sea, and the water receded as far as it reached. According to legend, this new area of land extended fromGokarna toKanyakumari.[18] The land which rose from sea was filled with salt and unsuitable for habitation; so Parashurama invoked the Snake KingNagaraja Vasuki, who spat holy poison known asHalahala and converted the soil into fertile lush green land. Out of respect, Vasuki and all snakes were appointed as protectors and guardians of the land.P. T. Srinivasa Iyengar theorised thatCheran Senguttuvan may have been inspired by the Parashurama legend, which was brought by early Aryan settlers.[19]
According to the works ofSangam literature (300 BCE – 300 CE),[20][21][22] Tulu Nadu was one of the 12 socio-geographical regions included in the ancientTamilakam.[23] Tulu Nadu likely formed part of ancientKerala (Chera dynasty), where the western coastal dialect ofMiddle Tamil was spoken.[15] It must have separated fromTamilakam sometime between 300 CE and 500 CE, when theKadambas invaded the northern portions ofChera kingdom.[15] No definite historical records relating to Tulu Nadu, other than those found inSangam literature, have been discovered of an earlier date than 8th or 9th century CE.[15]
Ptolemy, a Greco-Roman 2nd-century geographer, identifies the Tulu Nadu region asOlokhoira which is widely believed to be a corruption of the termAlva Kheda,[by whom?] "the land of the Alvas".[24] Historically, Tulu Nadu included the two separate lands ofHaiva andTuluva.[25] The longest-ruling and oldest known native dynasty of Tulu Nadu was that of theAlupas (c. 5th – 14th century CE).[26] Their kingdom was also known asAlvakheda. They initially ruled independently and later were the feudatories of the prominent dynasties. TheKadamba dynasty ofBanavasi was the earliest, under which theAlupas flourished. Later, the Rashtrakutas of Manyakheta,Chalukyas of Badami, Chalukyas of Kalyani,Hoysalas of Dwarasamudra (Halebidu), andRayas of Vijayanagara were the overlords. The Alupas, however, were independent, and their subordination was nominal at best. They ruled until theVijayanagara Empire took control of Tulu Nadu from 14th to the 17th centuries.[27][28]
During the rule ofVijayanagara, Tulu Nadu was administered in two parts –Mangaluru Rajya andBarkuru Rajya. Tulu Nadu was governed by the native feudatories of the Vijayanagara Empire until the 18th century. These feudatories gained power towards the end of the Alupa period. AnOld Malayalam inscription (Ramanthali inscriptions), dated to 1075, mentioning kingKunda Alupa, the ruler ofAlupa dynasty ofMangalore, can be found atEzhimala (the former headquarters ofMushika dynasty), nearPayyanur, inKerala State.[29]
Notable among them were[26] theChowtas ofUllal andMoodabidri (c. 1160 – c. 1801 CE),Ajilas ofVenur (c. 1418–1800 CE), the Savanta or Samantha Rajas ofMulki (c. 1411–1700 CE), the Bhairahawa Ideas ofKarkala (c. 1240–1650 CE), the Tolaharas of Suralu (c. 1139–1800 CE), the Bangas of Bangadi (c.1410–1800 CE), the Rajas ofKumbla (c. 12th century – 1800 CE), and the Rajas ofVitla (c. 1436–1800 CE).
The region became extremely prosperous during the Vijayanagara period, withBarkur andMangalore gaining importance. After the decline of theVijayanagara Empire, theKeladi Nayakas ofIkkeri controlled much of Tulu Nadu.[30] Over the following centuries, more ethnic groups migrated to the area.Konkanis fromGoa arrived by sea, as Mangaluru was a major port that served not only thePortuguese but also theArabs for maritime trades.Jains were already a prominent group and even today are uniquely preserved in Tulu Nadu. Though small in number, theJains left behind indelible reminders of their glory with temples (bastis), (mandirs) in (Moodabidri) and monolithic statues of the Jain godBahubali inKarkala,Venoor andDharmasthala. In the 16th century, there was a large influx of Catholics to Tulu Nadu from Goa.
UnderPortuguese rule, the region was called theMisao do Sul (Mission of the South). In the mid- to late-18th century, it was conquered byHyder Ali, the de facto ruler ofMysore. After the British defeatedHaidar's successorTipu Sultan in 1799, the region was attached to theMadras Presidency before being reverted to thestate of Mysore after independence.Mangalore played a prominent role in Tipu's battles with the British. The British gained full control by 1801 (Mysore has since been renamedKarnataka). TheBritish ruled the region withMadras (nowChennai) as its headquarters. Under the British, the region was organized into the districts ofNorth Canara andSouth Canara respectively.[7]
When the states were reorganized on a linguistic basis in 1956, Tulu Nadu (South Canara), which was earlier a part ofMadras Presidency, and North Canara, which was a part ofBombay Presidency, became part of the newly formed Mysore state, which was later renamed as Karnataka.Kasaragod became part of the newly formed state ofKerala. TheTuluvas began demandingofficial language status forTulu and aseparate state named Tulu Nadu for themselves. Organizations like theTulu Rajya Horata Samiti have taken up the cause of theTuluvas, and meetings and demonstrations were held at towns likeMangalore andUdupi to voice their demand.[33][34]
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1871 | 918,362 | — |
| 1881 | 959,514 | +4.5% |
| 1891 | 1,056,081 | +10.1% |
| 1901 | 1,134,713 | +7.4% |
| 1941 | 1,522,016 | +34.1% |
| 1951 | 1,748,991 | +14.9% |
| Sources:Imperial Gazetteer of India, Volume 14,[35] and 1951 Census Handbook of South Canara[36] | ||
South Canara had a total population of 1,748,991 in 1951, of whom 76.58% were Hindus, 14.31% Muslim, and 8.85% Christian.[36] The most widely spoken language wasTulu which was the mother tongue of 40% of the population, followed byMalayalam which formed the mother tongue of 24% each of the population. Around 17% of the total population spokeKannada. Around 13% of the population spokeKonkani as their mother tongue. In 1901, it had a density of 109 inhabitants per square kilometre (282/sq mi).[citation needed]
The 1908Imperial Gazetteer of India lists South Canara, along with theThanjavur andGanjam districts, as the three districts of theMadras Presidency whereBrahmins are most numerous.[35]
The majority of the people wereBillavas andBunts. There were more Brahmins (12% of the population) in South Kanara than in any other district of the Madras Presidency, making South Kanara, along withTanjore andGanjam one of the three districts of the province where Brahmins were most numerous.[35]
The originalindigenous people of the region areTuluvas (Bunts,Billavas,Mogaveeras,Tulu Gowdas,Kulalas,Devadigas,Bearys,Jogis, and Tulu Brahmins) andMalayalis in theKasaragod Taluk (Nambudiris,Nairs,Thiyyas,Mappilas etc.). The Brahmins who settled first belonged chiefly to theSthanika and thus they were called Tulu Brahmins. Others wereShivalli,Saraswat,Havyaka,Kota sub-sections, Mahars, the hill-tribes (Koragas).[37]
The most widely spoken language isTulu, which belongs to theDravidian family of languages, and whose native speakers are referred to asTuluva. The number of Tulu speakers was estimated to be about 1.7 million in 2001,[39][40] although some sources quote as many as 3 million.[41] The other languages spoken in Tulu Nadu includeKundagannada,Arebhashe,Malayalam,Konkani,Koraga, andBeary.[41]
TheTulu script (also known as the Tulu–Tigalari script) originates from theGrantha script and bears strong similarity to theMalayalam script. It was used in Tulu Nadu for many centuries before later being replaced by theKannada script for most writing. A large corpus of Sanskrit manuscripts—including Vedic and religious works—was historically written in this script,[42][43] and several important Tulu classical works, such as theTulu Mahabharata,Kaveri,Bhagavato, andDevimahatme, also survive in this script.[44]
Tulu Nadu lies along theKonkan Coast.[45] Tulu Nadu is bounded on the west by theArabian Sea and on the east by theWestern Ghats. TheChandragiri river forms a historical border to the south. Tulu Nadu spans an area of 8,441 km2 (3,259 sq mi), roughly 4.4 percent of the total geographical area of present-dayKarnataka and Kasaragod district is the northernmost district of Kerala.[46][citation needed]
The coastal region of Tulu Nadu is characterized by its lush rainforests and serene backwaters. The area enjoys a tropical climate, marked by scorching summers, humid days, and a monsoon season that brings heavy rainfall. While summer and winter months experience similar temperature conditions, with average temperatures ranging from 24 to 33 degrees Celsius (75 to 91 degrees Fahrenheit), the monsoon season brings a refreshing respite from the heat.[citation needed]
Monsoon starts at the beginning of June, with the heaviest rainfall duringAati month, which spans from mid-July to mid-August. Occasional rain persists untilDeepawali andMarnemi festivals in October–November. Winter lasts from December to early February, and Summer from mid-February until May. With occasional tropical rain during April and May.[47]
Most communities of Tulu Nadu live byAliyasantana (matrilineal) culture as opposed to Magana Santhana (patrilineal) culture. In thematrilineal system ofinheritance the lineage/inheritance is passed through the female line. Traditionally, the inheritance of the male members of the family went to the children of their sisters. Even today, many families in Mangalore practice kavar paalu while dividing old properties. Kavar paal is a system where children of the male members of the family do not inherit any of their paternal ancestral property.
Yakshagana is a night-long dance and drama performance practiced in Tulu Nadu with great fanfare.[48][49]Pilivesha is a unique form of folk dance in the region fascinating the young and the old alike, which is performed duringMarnemi (orDussehra in Tulu) andKrishna Janmashtami.[50]Karadi Vesha (Bear Dance) is another popular dance performed duringDasara in Tulu Nadu.[51]Daivaradhane (spirit worship), which is usually done at night, is practised here.Kambala (Buffalo race) is conducted in water-filled paddy fields. TheBhuta Kola is similar toTheyyam inNorth Malabar.[52][53]Korikatta (cockfighting) is another favorite sport of the people.Nagaradhane (snake worship) is practiced in the Tulu Nadu according to the popular belief of theNaga Devatha who resides underground and guards the species on the surface.[54]
Udupi cuisine is popular acrossSouth India, mostly due to Udupi restaurants, which are primarily vegetarian. Outside Southern India, there are also famous Udupi Hotels in Mumbai and New Delhi.[citation needed]
Historically, Tulu Nadu was primarily dependent on agriculture and fishing. The main crops grown were rice,Bengal gram,horse gram, vegetables, and fruits. Plantation crops like coconut,areca nut, cocoa,cashew nut, and pepper are also grown. In the early 20th century, theMangalore tile industry, cashew nut processing, and the banking industry grew substantially. Tulu Nadu is called "The cradle of Indian banking".[55] Five major banks of India (Syndicate Bank,Canara Bank,Corporation Bank,Vijaya Bank, andKarnataka Bank) have their origins here.
List of Banks of Tulu Nadu:
| Bank | Founded | Place | Founded by | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canara Bank | 1906; 120 years ago (1906) | Mangalore | Ammembal Subba Rao Pai | [56][non-primary source needed] |
| Karnataka Bank | 1924; 102 years ago (1924) | Mangalore | - | [57][non-primary source needed] |
| Vijaya Bank | 1931; 95 years ago (1931) | Mangalore | A. B. Shetty | [58][non-primary source needed] |
| Syndicate Bank | 1925; 101 years ago (1925) | Manipal | T. M. A. Pai, Upendra Pai, and Vaman Kudva | [59][non-primary source needed] |
| Corporation Bank | 1906; 120 years ago (1906) | Udupi | Khan Bahadur Haji Abdulla Haji Kasim Saheb Bahadur | [60][non-primary source needed] |
In the early part of the 21st century, the area has been transforming itself into a hub of theinformation technology and medical services industries. There has been a large-scale decline in agriculture and related industries due to the non-availability of labor and preference forwhite-collar jobs. Agricultural land is being converted to commercial andreal estate properties, and environmental pollution is increasing drastically due to large-scale deforestation and an increase in automobile use. Apublic sectorpetroleum refinery (MRPL) was established in the 1990s. Some chemical plants (e.g., fertilizers and pesticides) have been established. This region contributes the second-highest revenue to theKarnataka state after the city ofBangalore. This region has aninternational airport atMangalore, which is well connected to the rest ofIndia and Middle Eastern countries.New Mangalore Port (NMPT) is one of the major ports of India located atPanambur,Mangalore.[61]
Tulu Nadu contains several large educational institutions.[62]Mangalore andManipal host multiple universities and colleges. TheNational Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), located inSurathkal, is a centrally funded technical institute among India’s top engineering colleges according to national surveys such as the NIRF.Kasturba Medical College (KMC), with campuses in both Manipal and Mangalore, was ranked 9th and 21st respectively in theNational Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2020 rankings.[63][64]
Tulu is a southern Dravidian language that's spoken by 1.85 million people in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Kerala's Kasargod district.
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