Thread by @HateSpeechBeda

Thread.

We listened into Prof. Bilimale @PurushothamaBi1 speak today at the talk series: 'Sauharda Badukige Bahutvada Belaku', organised by @janashakthikw . He spoke of Tulunadu's roots of harmony in his brief 20 minute talk. Listing key points below (1/n)

#HateSpeechBeda

Tulu is an important language in Karnataka. Its roots are in the Karavali region whose peoples have travelled across Karnataka and even the world. Tulunadu extends from Chandragiri river in Kerala to Udupi's Kalyanapura river and from Arabian sea to Agumbe hills. 2/n

3 important categories of communities in the region: the twice-born communities, the different caste communities active in the region, different Dalit communities. Many of the sects within these three broad communities are not indigenous but have migrated into Tulunadu 3/n

Tulunadu comprises of historically migrant communities, who came to the land from other places, dug roots in the place and contributed to creating a composite culture. In this, the region mirrors the plurality visible in the rest of India. 4/n

This richness has been made possible by the region's proximity to the ocean. Peoples of Tulunadu have not only gone into the sea for fishing, they have not only crossed the ocean and travelled to other countries but they have also welcomed similar travellers into their region 5/n

The ocean has played an imp role in shaping the region's composite culture. It would not be wrong to broadly term Tulunadu's culture as a migrant culture. But these migrants did not loot and leave; they stayed, built roots & create what we now know as Tulu culture 6/n

Much research has been done on the connected histories of Tulunadu. Govind Pai has done fascinating research on the use of Tulu words in Greek plays. These histories of migration in the region it inevitable for communities to find ways to coexist peacefully 7/n

Tulu culture consists thus of the historical life experiences of innumerable communities which migrated to the region. It is natural however that there would be conflicts between local and newly arriving migrant communities in any historical period.
#WeAreAllMigrants 8/n

Christians came, opened schools and gave us education, increased Karavali's contact with the outside world; Muslims came and taught us how to conduct commerce; similarly all the other communities did not kill this Tulu culture but made it more richer.
#WeAreAllMigrants 9/n

Talking about Yakshagana, @PurushothamaBi1 said that the art form has no space for hate in it & has been nourished by the debates that skilled and talented artists bring to the stage. Hatred has seeped into this art form now, sadly.
#HateSpeechBeda 10/n

In Yakshagana, if 1 day u leave convinced by the actor who plays Krishna that Kauravas were at fault, the next day the same actor playing a Kaurava cd convince u that Krishna & Pandavas were at fault. Unsettles rigidities around wht is right & wrong & leaves no space fr hate.11/n

Art form has practicioners from different communities& has contributed to Tulunadu's composite culture. Until recently, people have cherished & looked after this culture responsibly. However, in recent times, selfish political interests hv sought to destroy the heterogeneity 12/n

In Karavali, Christians grow jasmine flowers, Muslims transport this jasmine in their lorries throughout Karavali, Hindus buy this jasmine and offer it to their gods. This story of the jasmine is a symbol of Tulunadu's long history of communal harmony.
#HateSpeechBeda 13/n

When people lose this history of communal harmony and the strength it has given for coexistence, Tulunadu will be destroyed. At that moment, neither the hater not the hated will survive.

Listen to the full talk by the erudite Prof. Bilimale here:

14/n.