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Tulu Writers Celebrated for Preserving Cultural Essence in Kannada Works
27 Oct
Summary
- Tulu essence deeply embedded in works by late writer Lalitha Rai
- Lalitha Rai's novels and short stories contained intellectual depth
- Bhagavatha Dinesh Ammannaya's contributions to Tulu language through Yakshagana
On October 25th, 2025, the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy organized a tribute event to honor the legacies of two prominent Tulu figures - late writer Lalitha Rai and Bhagavatha Dinesh Ammannaya.
According to Prof. Vivek Rai, the former vice-chancellor of Hampi Kannada University, Lalitha Rai's novels and short stories, written in Kannada, deeply embedded the true essence and intellectual stance of the Tulu language. Despite writing her works much later, they held significant value and intellectual depth, which is not an easy feat for Tulu writers.
Yakshagana scholar Prabhakar Joshi also praised Lalitha Rai, stating that she not only translated her influential thoughts into writing but also lived by them. Similarly, Bhagavatha Dinesh Ammannaya was recognized for harmonizing musical emotions with literary emotions, carving a niche for himself in the world of Yakshagana and contributing immensely to the love, pride, and development of the Tulu language.
The event was conducted by the Academy chairman, Tharanath Gatti Kapikad, who emphasized the need to publish Lalitha Rai's works in Tulu and document Dinesh Ammannaya's contributions in the form of a book.
