Tulu Quotes

Members of the Tulu religion are known to truly love their craft. They are always ready welcome to welcome new postulants at any of their temples. Applications may be made during regular business hours. Willingness to help destroy the universe a must.”    -A Visitor’s Guide to Traven, 144th Edition

Iä!  Iä! The Goat of a Thousand Young! Ghatanothoa! Great Tulu! Byakhee!

Let the mystical dance of the daivas intertwine with the vibrant hues of our mortal existence, illuminating our paths with revelations about Tulu Nadu’s spirit deities or as they say in Tulu—Satyolu.

As Tulu evolves and adapts to the changing times, it remains a crucial part of south Indian culture and identity.

Another event witnessed by Kshama and Ullas: ‘Mad Akku’ was a mentally ill woman who used to drop by occasionally at Balavana to beg for some money or food. Without having had a bath for months, she was stinking to the high heavens. Her long hair had matted and turned brown, caked with dirt. Amma had asked, ‘Akku don’t you ever have a bath?’ Akku had rudely responded, ‘Who will give me a bath, will you?’ Amma said ‘yes’ without a moment’s hesitation. She took Akku to the bathroom, washed her hair and gave her a thorough bath. She then draped Akku in a fresh clean saree and fed her a hot meal. All of us watching were stunned by her actions. Akku started weeping. She said, ‘Amma eer deveru, eer naramani atthu,’ in Tulu. (Amma, you are God. You are not a human being.) Akku fell at Amma’s feet and continued weeping.

When Shivarama Karanth was among children, he too became a child. He was like a wiser older friend to any child he met. Most of the times, Karanth used to address his own children using funny nicknames that he affectionately coined for them. After Karanth finished his work for the day, as he came down the stairs from his study, he used to affectionately call out to Leelamma, addressing her as ‘O La’. He would ask her for a glass of water and drink it up before going on his routine evening walk to the town. When Karanth bantered with his children about their mother, he jokingly referred to her ‘Ammade’, which is how the name ‘Ahmed’ plays out on Tulu tongues. Leelamma also used to banter with Karanth. Instead of going up the stairs to his office, she would mischievously call out to him from below, addressing him as ‘Hoy Karanthare’.

Tata’s printing press was called Harsha Printery, named after my elder brother. One day I asked Tata, ‘Why is the press named Harsha Printery? Is there nothing named after Malu?’ He instantly responded jokingly, saying, ‘Harsha Printery, Malu Kurlari’ (in Tulu, puffed rice is called ‘kurlari’). I was very upset and demanded, ‘Naanu yaake kurlari?’ (Why are you calling me merely puffed rice?) A few days later, when Tata launched a new series of short stories for children, he called the series Malavika Kathamaale (Malavika’s Garland of Stories). He had made amends for blowing off my concern about the printing press being named after my brother. He would sometimes make a remark lightly, but later think about it and act seriously. Many lovely stories for children were brought out by Tata under this new series named after me. I was fully satisfied!.

Tata’s printing press was called Harsha Printery, named after my elder brother. One day I asked Tata, ‘Why is the press named Harsha Printery? Is there nothing named after Malu?’ He instantly responded jokingly, saying, ‘Harsha Printery, Malu Kurlari’ (in Tulu, puffed rice is called ‘kurlari’). I was very upset and demanded, ‘Naanu yaake kurlari?’ (Why are you calling me merely puffed rice?) A few days later, when Tata launched a new series of short stories for children, he called the series Malavika Kathamaale (Malavika’s Garland of Stories). He had made amends for blowing off my concern about the printing press being named after my brother. He would sometimes make a remark lightly, but later think about it and act seriously. Many lovely stories for children were brought out by Tata under this new series named after me. I was fully satisfied!