Mangaluru: Long before the demand for official language status gained momentum, Tulu had found a place in the prayers and hymns of churches across coastal Karnataka, especially Church of South India (CSI) churches. With the state cabinet recently approving its recognition as a second additional official language for administrative and govt purposes, the language’s enduring presence in church worship indicates its deep roots in the region’s cultural and spiritual life. From hymns sung during Sunday worship to sermons delivered in the mother tongue, Tulu continues to connect congregations with their faith in a language they understand best.The roots of Tulu in churches of coastal Karnataka go back to the early 19th century, when missionaries of the Basel Evangelical Mission began preaching in the language to connect with local communities. In 1841, ‘Mathai Barethina Suvarte’ became the first book to be printed in Tulu. A hymn book, ‘Tulu Geetholu’, followed in 1868. Missionary August Menner (Jackob Friedrich August Manner) translated 160 of its 251 hymns into Tulu, strengthening the language’s place in church worship.Benet G Ammanna, retired archival assistant of Karnataka Theological College and a former member of the Tulu Sahitya Academy, said Tulu continues to resonate in Sunday worship across Church of South India (CSI) churches in the coastal districts.“During Sunday prayers, known as ‘Aradhane’, around five hymns are usually sung, of which two are in Tulu,” he said. In some rural churches, the entire prayer service, including the sermon, locally known as ‘Prasanga’ or ‘Bodhane’, is conducted in Tulu. The language also connects Tulu-speaking communities living away from their homeland with their cultural and religious roots. Some people settled in Mumbai and Gulf countries can speak Tulu but cannot read Kannada. They use transliterated versions of prayers to participate in worship in a language they understand, he added.Rev Deepak Victor Shantharaj, pastor in-charge of CSI Vishranthi Church, Bokkapatna, said that although Sunday mass is conducted in Kannada, sermons are occasionally delivered in Tulu, considering the language’s prevalence among local communities. Choir teams also sing two to four hymns in Tulu.Rev Sebastian K Jathana, deputy presbyter of CSI Shanthi Cathedral, Balmatta, who has served as a pastor for the past 30 years, ensures that sermons and talks are delivered in Tulu to connect more closely with the congregation.
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