September 9, 2024: The Tulu script has been officially integrated into the Unicode Standard with the release of Unicode 16, which introduces 80 new characters. This milestone marks a significant advancement for the Tulu-speaking community, enhancing their ability to communicate across digital platforms.
The journey towards this inclusion began in 2001 when efforts to include the Kannada script in Unicode also spurred advocacy for the Tulu script. Initial challenges, including misunderstandings with the Tulu Academy in Mangaluru, were eventually overcome, setting the stage for future developments. Notably, three Tulu experts, including scholar S.A. Krishnaiah, played a pivotal role in this effort.
The push for a Tulu Wikipedia in 2014 and its subsequent launch on August 6, 2016, highlighted the need for a Tulu Unicode. By 2017, the Tulu Academy recognized this necessity and formed a committee to finalize the characters with technical assistance. Although there are some minor differences between the Tulu Academy’s list and the Unicode’s final version, most of the essential characters, including Tulu digits and diacritic marks for Sanskrit, have been included.
The inclusion of Tulu in Unicode is expected to significantly enhance digital communication for Tulu speakers. It will enable the use of the Tulu script on social media, websites, and messaging apps, strengthening its online presence. Additionally, the availability of Unicode-encoded fonts, keyboard software, and converters will streamline the creation of educational materials in Tulu, such as textbooks and online courses.
This development provides global recognition for Tulu, encouraging software and application developers to support the script, thereby increasing its usability and visibility. With over 1.8 million speakers worldwide, predominantly in the coastal regions of Karnataka and Kerala, and also in the Gulf countries and the United States, this recognition is a major step forward.
Tulu, a Dravidian language related to Kannada, has a rich oral tradition but limited written resources. The script, which shares similarities with Malayalam and originated from the Grantha script, continues to be a subject of advocacy for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The Dravidian University at Kuppam in Andhra Pradesh also hosts a special Tulu chair, further supporting the language’s development.
