Tulu Nadu-a Nandanavana of India

           Tulu Nadu is a place that reminds us of its unforgettable past. The name is perhaps a traditional one but has rich heritage. The indigenous people called ‘Tuluva,’were always proud of the name, Tulu-nadu. It was ruled by Tolav dynasty. Tuluva also denotes the people and an area where Tulu was spoken by people. Tuluva has its great significance if its root is traced in Kannada language. One of the writers, B.A. Saletore finds its root in Kannada as Tulu which means ‘to attack.’ The nature of Tuluva is described as warlike people. Historians and great writers have described ‘Tulu-nadu’ in different ways from their experiences. Tulu-nadu is one of the coastal districts of Karnataka called South Kanara. The new name ‘South Kanara’ is the result of the conversion from Tulu-nadu in 1860 and this became part of the British division, in the Madras Presidency.

       The most renowned Indian and a historical figure, Sarojini Naidu pronounced Tulu nadu, a Nandanavana of India or in other words, a pleasure garden of India. Naidu has a reason to say Tulu-nadu as Nandanavana. Sediyapu Krishna Bhat, a man of great acquaintance of Tulu culture added his opinion to Tulu as water. The place which abounds in water helped fishermen thrive. K.V. Ramesh interprets Tulu-nadu is a region which is filled with soft fruits. The name is has root in Dravidian language as Turu which stands for cattle. This draws meaning for Tuluva as cattle breeders. Over the years, as the time took a new turn in terms of development. As a result the name Tulu-nadu came to be known as South Kanara. This is basically a place of forest which has rich and luxuriant flora and timber. The rich land is beautifully described by the author Kranti Farias in his book, ‘The Christian Impact in South Kanara,’ as s as, “The Western Ghats have steep cliffs in the northern part and in the southern have parallel ridges intersected by deep valleys beyond 80 Kms from the sea.”

            South Kanara is one of the spots of India for its wealth. Another testimony which leaves us a clue to realize the importance of the region is Tipu Sulthan’s strict policy. When Mangalore was under the dynasty of Tipu Sultan of Mysore he ordered uncompromising policy which put forward several penalties for those who dared to sell sandalwood trees because these trees were the major source of revenue to the state. Therefore Tulu-nadu or South Kanara is a place of sandalwood which probably made the place gain more prominence in the Indian map. This prominence is still held truth today in different forms of development.

L Arun,

MCMS, 0129701